SWIS Africa on News Central TV: Are African Women Reshaping Science?
- SWIS Africa
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, SWIS Africa was honored to be invited to join a live television panel discussion on News Central TV’s One SLOT program. The conversation went beyond celebration and recognition—it asked a bold and necessary question:
Are African women simply participating in STEM, or are they reshaping how science is governed and funded across the continent?
Hosted by Mazino Appeal, the discussion brought together leading voices in African STEM, including:
Abosede Salami, representing SWIS Africa
Oluwatimilehin Onafeso
Precious Natang
Rasheedat Adeyemo
The panel explored leadership, policy influence, research funding, and the structural shifts needed to ensure African women are not just included—but centered—in shaping the continent’s scientific future.
Women at the Center of Africa’s Innovation Agenda
With the African Union’s African Union driving innovation through the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2034 (STISA-2034), the discussion emphasized the urgency of ensuring women are not sidelined in implementation.
STISA 2034 outlines Africa’s long-term science and innovation agenda—focused on research excellence, industrialization, digital transformation, and sustainable development. But policies alone are not enough. Representation in decision-making spaces, access to funding, and leadership in research governance are what ultimately determine whether women influence outcomes.
The central takeaway: African women are not merely participating in STEM—they are increasingly shaping research priorities, influencing policy, and redefining innovation ecosystems.
SWIS Africa’s Voice on the Panel
During the discussion, Abosede Salami highlighted the transformative work SWIS Africa is doing to empower women in STEM across both urban and rural communities.
She emphasized that empowerment must go beyond workshops and conferences—it must translate into tangible opportunities, economic access, and visibility.
One powerful example shared was the Agritrailblazer Project, implemented in partnership with the HortiNigeria program. Through this initiative, SWIS Africa supports women in agricultural science and agribusiness—equipping them with training, market access, and innovation-driven tools to thrive within local food systems.
By focusing on rural inclusion, research communication, and practical skills development, SWIS Africa is helping ensure that women across Africa—regardless of geography—can contribute meaningfully to the continent’s innovation economy.
From Participation to Power
The conversation on One SLOT underscored a critical shift happening across Africa:
Women are leading research labs and startups.
Women are influencing science policy conversations.
Women are building community-based innovation ecosystems.
Women are advocating for equitable funding structures.
However, systemic challenges remain—particularly in funding access, representation at governance levels, and scaling grassroots innovation.
The panel called for stronger institutional backing, inclusive policy implementation, and deliberate investment in women-led scientific ventures.
Why This Conversation Matters
Being featured on News Central TV was more than media visibility for SWIS Africa—it was an opportunity to contribute to a continental dialogue about power, policy, and progress.
The future of African science depends not only on increasing the number of women in laboratories and lecture halls, but also on positioning them as decision-makers, funders, policymakers, and innovators shaping Africa’s development trajectory.
As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the question remains clear:
African women are not just participating.They are building.They are leading.They are reshaping the system.
Watch the full panel discussion here:
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