Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | Journalist at Weng Global
A youth-focused organisation, Shaping African Women in STEM (SWIS Africa), has unveiled an innovation hub initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for young women interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to give young women practical exposure to emerging technologies while helping them develop the confidence, technical skills and professional networks needed to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.
Among the areas being prioritised are artificial intelligence (AI), data science, innovation and mentorship, with the organisation seeking to bridge some of the gaps that continue to limit women’s participation in the technology and science sectors.
SWIS Africa describes itself as a non-profit organisation focused on celebrating, promoting and shaping African women in STEM through storytelling, innovative programmes and strategic partnerships. Its stated vision is to inspire young African women to pursue and achieve their purpose in STEM.
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
As part of the innovation hub’s activities, SWIS Africa is introducing young women to artificial intelligence and data science through practical, hands-on learning.
The organisation’s SWIS Pop-Up Innovation Lab is scheduled to hold in Lagos, with its first programme focused on an introduction to AI and data science.
According to information published by SWIS Africa, the two-day intensive workshop is designed for between 30 and 35 young women in STEM, aged 18 to 35.
Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, including how AI works and how the technology can be applied to real-world challenges.
The programme will also teach participants how to read, clean and interpret datasets, identify patterns and trends, and use AI tools to develop solutions to problems within their communities.
Importantly, the programme does not require participants to have previous coding or data science experience.
The initiative is therefore positioned not only as a technical training programme but also as an entry point for women who may be interested in technology and data-driven careers but have had limited access to specialised training.
SWIS Africa says participants are expected to leave with foundational confidence in AI and data literacy, a mini-project applying AI or data tools to a local challenge, and connections to a wider network of young women in STEM.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป
The innovation hub comes as part of a broader effort by SWIS Africa to address the gap between education, professional development and career opportunities for women in STEM.
The organisation’s programmes have increasingly focused on giving female students and young professionals access to mentorship, training and professional networks.
One of its major initiatives, the SWIS EmpowHER Programme, was launched in 2026 to support final-year female STEM students as they transition from university into careers in academia, industry or entrepreneurship.
The programme selected 44 female university students from different STEM disciplines across Nigeria following a competitive selection process. Participants were provided with structured training and an eight-week mentorship phase involving experienced professionals.
The programme is designed to address a challenge frequently experienced by graduates: possessing academic qualifications but lacking professional networks, workplace readiness and direct mentorship.
Through the initiative, participants receive training in areas including leadership, writing, problem-solving and networking, alongside specialised preparation based on their preferred career pathway.
๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Beyond technical skills, mentorship remains a central component of SWIS Africa’s strategy.
The organisation believes that access to experienced professionals can help young women better understand career opportunities, navigate professional environments and build networks that can support long-term career development.
The SWIS EmpowHER programme, for example, pairs participants with experienced professionals during its mentorship phase.
SWIS Africa also intends to connect participants in its Pop-Up Innovation Lab to ongoing STEM Circles mentorship groups, providing a pathway for continued engagement after the initial training.
Such networks can be particularly important for young women entering fields where they may have limited representation.
By combining technical training with mentorship and peer connections, the organisation hopes to create an environment where participants can develop both competence and confidence.
๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
A key feature of the innovation hub approach is its emphasis on practical application.
Rather than focusing exclusively on theoretical knowledge, participants are expected to explore how AI and data can be used to solve problems within their communities.
SWIS Africa’s Pop-Up Innovation Lab describes data literacy as an increasingly important foundational skill and seeks to give participants practical experience working with data and AI tools.
Participants will develop a mini-project applying what they have learned to a local challenge, allowing them to demonstrate how technology can be used beyond the classroom.
This approach could also encourage young women to view STEM not simply as a field of study, but as a tool for entrepreneurship, community development and social impact.
๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ
SWIS Africa’s innovation efforts are part of a wider portfolio of programmes targeting women and girls at different stages of their educational and professional journeys.
The organisation has also implemented initiatives aimed at secondary school students, research training, personal branding and career development.
Its high school empowerment programme, for example, has focused on helping girls develop academic habits, identify mentors, understand scholarship opportunities and prepare for future educational and career opportunities.
By engaging girls and women at different stages, SWIS Africa is seeking to build a stronger pipeline of female talent entering STEM fields.
The organisation says it has already reached more than 5,000 women directly or through inspiration, with more than 2,000 participants taking part in training and workshops and more than 20 programmes and projects implemented.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ปโ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Increasing women’s participation in STEM has implications beyond individual career opportunities.
Technology, engineering, data science and artificial intelligence are increasingly influencing industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to finance, education and manufacturing.
Greater participation by women can bring broader perspectives into the development of technologies and solutions that affect society.
For Nigeria, where a growing young population is increasingly engaging with digital technologies, developing a diverse technology workforce could also contribute to entrepreneurship, employment creation and innovation.
Initiatives such as the SWIS Africa innovation hub therefore represent an effort to ensure that young women are not left behind as the country’s economy becomes increasingly technology-driven.
๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ
The success of such programmes will ultimately depend on sustained access to training, mentorship, funding, professional networks and opportunities for participants to apply their skills.
SWIS Africa’s approach combines several of these elements by bringing together training, mentorship, storytelling and partnerships.
The organisation says its broader mission is to celebrate, promote and shape African women in STEM while creating a more inclusive and diverse STEM community across the continent.
With the emergence of AI and data science as critical skills for the future economy, providing young women with early exposure to these fields could help them participate more confidently in Nigeria’s growing digital ecosystem.
The innovation hub is therefore positioned as more than a training centre. It is part of a broader effort to create opportunities for young women to learn, innovate, connect with mentors and eventually become leaders in STEM.
As Nigeria continues to embrace digital transformation, initiatives that equip young women with practical technology skills could play an important role in building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.
Sources: SWIS Africa official website and programme publications.
