From Classroom to Showcase: SWIS EmpowHER Fellows Present Their Final Projects

On September 26, 2026, our SWIS EmpowHER fellows came together virtually to present the final projects they have been building over the past weeks. It was a proud moment for all of us at SWIS Africa. What began months ago as training sessions and mentorship conversations turned into ten bold, original projects, designed and delivered by final-year female STEM students from across Nigeria.

The group project phase was designed to give our fellows the chance to apply everything they had learned in their training and mentorship, and to take full ownership of an idea from start to finish. Each group chose its own topic, shaped its own approach, and stood before a virtual audience to present and defend its work.

Ten Groups, Three Streams, One Shared Purpose

Our fellows were organised into ten groups of four to five students: three groups in each of the Academic, Industry, and Entrepreneurship streams, plus one cross-stream group that brought together fellows from all three. Each group worked in a different format, so no two presentations looked alike.

The Academic Stream

Our Academic stream fellows showed what it looks like to think like researchers. One group researched a STEM topic relevant to Nigeria and Africa and communicated it through a poster designed to be understood by anyone, not just experts. Another designed its own survey, collected responses from at least 50 participants, and presented original data and patterns that had never existed before. The third group carried out a literature review, synthesising existing research on its chosen topic and pointing to the gaps that researchers and policymakers should focus on next.

The Industry Stream

Our Industry stream fellows tackled the question of women’s representation in Nigeria’s STEM workplaces head on. One group studied a real Nigerian company, examined how women are represented across its levels, and delivered a boardroom pitch with a practical diversity and inclusion strategy. Another zoomed out to an entire industry, identifying systemic barriers and recommending actions for industry bodies, associations, and regulators. The third designed a role model campaign to attract more young Nigerian women into a STEM career field, complete with a clear message, target audience, and channels.

The Entrepreneurship Stream

Our Entrepreneurship stream fellows proved that STEM can be a powerful tool for solving real problems. One group designed a for-profit business around a STEM-based product or service and pitched it as if seeking investment. Another built a non-profit organisation from the ground up to serve an underserved community, presenting its mission, funding model, and impact measurement as if to a donor. The third developed a government policy proposal addressing a STEM-related challenge, complete with funding and success measures, and presented it as if to a government committee.

Closing the Showcase: A Story Worth Telling

Our cross-stream group had the honour of closing the event. Drawing on the conversations, experiences, and work generated throughout the programme, they told the story of women in STEM in Nigeria today, in a format of their own choosing. It was a fitting end to the day, a reminder that every fellow in this programme is part of a larger story still being written.

What This Moment Means

When we launched SWIS EmpowHER, our goal was to help final-year female STEM students bridge the gap between the classroom and their careers, whether in academia, industry, or entrepreneurship. Watching our fellows research, strategise, pitch, and defend their ideas with confidence showed us that this goal is being realised. These are not just class projects. They are proof of what young Nigerian women in STEM can do when given the training, mentorship, and space to lead.

Thank You

We are deeply grateful to our fellows for their hard work and creativity, to the mentors and facilitators who guided them, and to everyone who joined us virtually to cheer them on. We also thank the European Union and Global Youth Mobilization, through the Youth Empowerment Fund, for making the SWIS EmpowHER Programme possible.

To our fellows: we are so proud of you. This is only the beginning.