SWIS Africa Launches the SWIS Empowerment Program in OASOS, Nigeria

On October 10, 2025, Shaping African Women in STEM (SWIS Africa) launched the SWIS Empowerment Program at Oladipo Alayande School of Science (OASOS), Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

The launch event, themed “Empowering Young Leaders to Explore Meaningful Future Careers,” marked the beginning of a transformative journey to inspire, educate, and empower secondary school students—especially young girls—to dream bigger and pursue purpose-driven careers.

A Return to Inspire

The initiative holds special significance for SWIS Africa as two of its Co-Founders, Abosede Salami and Samuel Ogunsola, are proud alumni of OASOS. Their return to their alma mater symbolizes a heartfelt commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for the next generation of learners.

To celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, SWIS Africa hosted a panel discussion featuring successful OASOS alumni who are making global impact in their fields:

• Temilade Salami, MBA student at the University of Chicago and former Google employee

• Joel Phoebe, MBA student at the London Business School and former Shell Nigeria professional

These speakers shared powerful stories of growth, resilience, and career discovery, encouraging students to embrace learning, believe in their potential, and explore diverse career paths.

Academic and Financial Support for Students

As part of the empowerment program, SWIS Africa is partnering with Sabischolar, an innovative online learning platform, to provide free access to JAMB and WAEC tutorials for 50 students. This initiative aims to strengthen students’ academic readiness and confidence as they prepare for key national exams.

In addition, 10 students will receive financial assistance to pay for their JAMB and WAEC registration fees, ensuring that no student is left behind due to financial challenges.

To further recognize academic excellence, the top three female students with the highest JAMB scores will be honored with certificates of excellence during the program.

Building Digital Skills for the Future

SWIS Africa also seeks to collaborate with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to gain access to the ICT Community Center at OASOS, built by NITDA through the Renewed Hope Initiative. This center will serve as a hub for future digital skills training in areas such as web design, data analysis, and basic coding, helping students develop valuable 21st-century competencies.

Scaling Impact Across Nigeria

The OASOS Empowerment Program represents the first phase of a larger vision. SWIS Africa plans to expand this initiative to more secondary schools across Nigeria, creating a sustainable model of mentorship, academic support, and career development for young people across the country.

The project is being coordinated by Victor Ikechukwu, SWIS Africa’s project lead in Ibadan, with the support of dedicated volunteers who share a passion for youth empowerment and educational equity.