A girl’s interest in science and technology may begin with a classroom lesson, but turning that interest into a pathway can depend on much more, exposure to STEM opportunities, access to practical learning, supportive teachers, mentorship, resources and the confidence to believe that a career in technology is within reach.
For many girls, the question is therefore not simply whether they are interested in STEM, but whether they have the opportunities and support needed to explore that interest and pursue it.
It is this conversation that WAAW Foundation is bringing to radio with the launch of STEM for Girls, a new four-part programme focused on girls’ participation in science, technology and innovation in the Federal Capital Territory.
The one-hour programme begins airing on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Eagles FM 102.3 Abuja and will continue every Thursday.
STEM for Girls will create a public platform for conversations about the factors that shape girls’ access to STEM education and future careers. Rather than simply encouraging more girls to choose STEM, the programme will examine what needs to be in place for girls to have a genuine opportunity to pursue it.
The four-part series will bring together perspectives from across the STEM ecosystem, including policymakers and government officials working in science, technology and innovation; nonprofit and civil society organisations creating STEM opportunities for girls; young women studying technology and other STEM-related disciplines; and girls and young women who aspire to build careers in science and technology.
The opening episode will focus on the policy and government perspective, examining the role of institutions in creating stronger pathways for girls in STEM. Subsequent conversations will look at the experiences of organisations working directly with girls, the journeys of young women already pursuing STEM-related fields, and the aspirations of girls who want to enter technology and science.
These conversations will explore issues including access to technology and practical learning, exposure to STEM careers, mentorship, teacher support, learning environments and the barriers that can prevent girls from turning an interest in STEM into a future pathway.
The programme is part of WAAW Foundation’s broader advocacy work to advance science and technology education for girls in the FCT, particularly across rural and suburban Area Councils.
It also builds on the Foundation’s ongoing work to understand the realities facing girls and science educators in schools across the FCT, including differences in STEM exposure, access to practical learning resources and school laboratory capacity.
By taking these conversations to radio, WAAW Foundation is creating an opportunity for these issues to reach beyond schools, development organisations and policy spaces and into the wider public conversation. The programme will provide space for policymakers, practitioners, young women and girls to share their perspectives and experiences on what is needed to expand opportunities for girls in STEM.
At the heart of the series is a simple question: what would it take for more girls to see science and technology not simply as subjects they study in school, but as fields in which they can build their futures?
STEM for Girls airs every Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Eagles FM 102.3 Abuja, beginning October 1, 2026.
