TechHer, a community of learning, support, and collaboration for women in technology extended a hand of fellowship to Abuja Technology Village (ATV) via a courtesy call paid to its MD Ms. Hauwa Yabani on Thursday the 8th of December 2016.
Received by the MD and ATV's Business Development Manager Ibrahim Bashir, the delegation from TechHer told the story of the growing community, its vision, and goals, highlighting successes recorded and plans for the coming year. Specifically, TechHer's Continuous Learning and Development Programme (CLDP), several research strands, and the Mothers and Daughters Outreach were presented as potential projects for co-ownership. MD Hauwa Yabani said of the proposed partnership, "TechHer and ATV perfectly align on the creation of a viable platform to encourage women and girls into STEM and then attract them to the ATV."
Mr. Bashir took the team on an extended presentation of the vision for the Abuja Technology Village, changes that have been made to the original development plans, and the sheer enormity of the project designed to be Africa's leading technology and innovation district. The eco-friendly village designed to function without any generating sets will house about 40,000 people and see another 100,000 use the various facilities on-site. Construction is on schedule and will see the first set of structures completed in 2019.
Hauwa Yabani, MD of ATV shared her passion and excitement at the responsibility of leading the team, and about Women Innovation Hub (Winnohub); a specialist conducive atmosphere for women (single, married, employed or not) to congregate and innovate.
Speaking of Enspire Incubator which housed TechHer in its first few months of existence, the MD said, "Enspire was born out of the thought that the heartbeat of any science park is a functional incubator, and fits into our goals of attracting foreign Direct Investment, building local capacity, and encouraging STEM education".
The meeting ended with an agreement to sign a draft MOU containing short and long term goals forthwith, and the presentation of branded TechHer items to management.
Chioma Agwuegbo led TechHer's delegation which also had Programme Officer Onyejekwulum Adii and Researcher Lara Raji.
Janet Shufor Fofang is from Cameroon. She is a social entrepreneur, educator, technologist and speaker. Janet has been teaching electrical engineering for over 15 years at the College D’enseignement Technique Industriel et Commercial. Janet is a certified mentor with mentoring standards and coach supporting the ground work to increase more women and girls in STEM.
She adopts a mission to create and sustain social value. She aims to pursue suitable solutions to social problems and draw upon appropriate thinking in both the business and nonprofit world. She has recipient of notable awards and also sit on the advisory board member and member of :
The leadership council for Women Enhancing Technology Africa (WETECH Africa)
Managing director Girls in Technology Cameroon
Member of Techwomen
She participates in numerous talks and panels emphasizing the ground-work needed for getting women and girls involved in Information Communication Technology for Development (ICTD)
She won the A. Richard Newton Educator ABIE Award that recognizes educators who develop innovative teaching practices and approaches that attract girls and women in STEM.
Her Work:
She established a private K-12 school in Yaoundé; the capital City of Cameroon. K-12 School is an educational model that provides quality education through the use of technology. She actively demonstrates her dedication to youth education and strong support for girls. She has 60 percent of females enrolled in her school. She is extremely passionate about the outcome of her students.
She builds and teaches solar photovoltaics so children can learn about the benefits of clean energy to the environment.
In 2007, she Co-founded Tassah academy, which birthed Girls in Tech (GIT). GIT is a global non-profit organisation focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of girls and women who are passionate about technology. Their aim is to accelerate the growth of innovative women who are getting into the high-tech industry and building successful startups.
In 2014, she started “STEM box” and “STEM Your School” projects to increase the numbers of women in technology in Cameroon. This vision is to give them more decision-making power in STEM.
Why TechHer Loves Her:
She is extremely passionate about the outcome of her students and envisions developing schools that are affordable for all students. These schools are to set high standards of academic achievement as model for education development in West Africa.
Information gleaned from the Internet.
