By Kingsley Alumona
The founder of STEMi Makers of Africa, Amanda Obidike, has won the Outstanding Woman in Technovation Award − one of the four Women in Leadership Awards awarded by the United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNAN).
The United Nations Association (UNA) is a non-governmental organisation that exists in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of the member states and the United Nations. The Nigerian chapter of the association, UNAN, is poised to mobilise, motivate and educate the civil society of Nigeria to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the statement of the organisers, the awards were presented to the winners in commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme: ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’.
“These beautiful women have distinguished themselves in the ICT space,” the statement added.
Reacting to the win on Monday, Obidike – who is also the General Manager of the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation − stated that she was surprised when she received an email from UNAN congratulating her on the nomination and the award process that involved voting.
“It was very competitive and rigorous,” she said. “I naturally turn down awards that solicit for people’s vote, but I was surprised when friends and networks reached out when they saw the advert on the United Nations platform and threw in a lot of support.”
Obidike stated that she never thought she would be in the league of winners and women leaders in the banking sector and rising start-up spaces.
She further stated that the award was given to her for her outstanding achievements in using science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to empower underserved communities, especially girls and women, and also in using STEM to address community problems.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s IWD, Obidike stressed that it was high time young women and girls rapidly grew out of what the society conforms them to and be intentionally active in creating a winning niche in STEM and innovation careers. She admonished them to set realistic goals and a vision board on holding themselves accountable.
Obidike said that in the coming months, they are eager to do more and extend their reach in remote areas, and to design programmes for educators in the North Central, South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.
“At the moment, we are speaking to esteemed organisations and state governments for partnerships, given a grant funding we received for educator development in STEM,” she added.
The other awardees of the UNAN Women in Leadership Awards were: Rachel Adeshina, Chief Information Officer, First Bank, who won the Outstanding Woman in Digital Transformation; Izekeo Adegoke, Head of Digital Ventures, Union Bank, who won the Outstanding Woman in Fintech; and Dr Aderonke Adelekan, founder of Tech Savvy Nigeria, who won the Outstanding Woman in Technological Impact.
