African stakeholders call for investment in girls' leadership and STEM skills

Stakeholders at the inaugural African Girls Assembly in Abuja have called for early investment in leadership skills and confidence to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. Convened by the Educate a Woman Initiative, the assembly emphasized the need to build agency and networks for girls to prepare them for community and national leadership.

In a separate forum in Dar es Salaam, participants highlighted the necessity of increasing girls' access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as digital skills. Advocates stressed that bridging the digital divide and ensuring girls participate in policymaking and budgeting are strategic requirements for achieving long-term national development goals and sustainable economic growth.