SWIS Africa wraps first SWIS Hub Innovation Lab in Lagos with strong turnout

Shaping African Women in STEM (SWIS Africa) has successfully held its first Pop-Up Innovation Lab under the SWIS Hub project in Lagos, drawing 29 young women in STEM on each of the two days of the event.

The two-day intensive, held on Friday and Saturday, August 7 and 8, 2026, at the University of Lagos, focused on artificial intelligence and data science, giving participants hands-on training designed to build practical digital skills relevant to today's STEM careers.

The event featured two speakers who shared insights and experience with participants, alongside interactive sessions that gave the young women an opportunity to work through real problems, ask questions and connect with one another.

SWIS Africa described the turnout and energy at the Lagos lab as an encouraging start to the SWIS Hub project, which will see three more Pop-Up Innovation Labs held across Nigeria over the coming months, each focused on a different theme ranging from science communication to digital tools and prototyping.

Speaking after the event, the Executive Director of SWIS Africa, Samuel Ogunsola, described the Lagos lab as an amazing experience.

He said, "Seeing 29 young women show up each day, eager to learn and engage, was such an amazing thing to witness. Our speakers brought so much value, and the energy in the room over those two days told us everything we needed to know about why this work matters. This is only the beginning of what the SWIS Hub will do for women in STEM across Nigeria."

The SWIS Hub project is funded through the AU-EU Youth Action Lab Innovation Grant, co-funded by the European Union and the African Union and managed by Oxfam Novib. It runs from May 2026 to April 2027 and is expected to directly impact more than 500 young women through Pop-Up Innovation Labs, a Media Fellowship, STEM Circles and a digital mentorship platform.