# African advocacy for girls' leadership and STEM

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/african-advocacy-for-girls-leadership-and-stem
> Updated: 2026-10-28T22:45:47.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 4.

Stakeholders across Africa are advocating for increased investment in leadership training and STEM education for girls to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.

At the inaugural African Girls Assembly in Abuja, participants emphasized the need for early mentorship, confidence-building, and supportive networks. Discussions in Dar es Salaam further highlighted the necessity of increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as digital skills to bridge the digital divide. Advocates noted that ensuring girls participate in policymaking and budgeting is a strategic requirement for national development.

In South Africa, officials marked the International Day of the Girl Child by stressing the importance of addressing barriers such as gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, poverty, and unequal educational opportunities. Efforts also focused on the inclusion of girls with special education needs to ensure their voices are represented in leadership development.

During the Elevate Africa Annual Convening 2026 in Accra, Ghana, leaders called for enhanced female leadership through equal opportunity and resource access. Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang highlighted systemic barriers for female entrepreneurs, specifically the difficulty in securing financing, and proposed the creation of a Women’s Development Bank. Additionally, Olori Atuwatse III, Queen of the Warri Kingdom, stressed the importance of intergenerational solidarity, urging established women to mentor younger generations by sharing knowledge and networks.

In Nigeria, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged successful women in business and public service to mentor the next generation to dismantle barriers for younger women. Concurrently, the women’s wing of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) called for greater female participation in decision-making and university leadership to ensure women contribute more effectively to institutional and national progress.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-28: Nigerian leaders call for increased female mentorship and leadership

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities have called for increased mentorship and greater female representation in leadership roles.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-leaders-call-for-increased-female-mentorship-and-leadership

### 2026-10-27: African leaders advocate for female empowerment and mentorship

African leaders and diplomats are calling for increased female leadership through better access to financial resources, mentorship, and strategic diaspora partnerships to empower future generations.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/african-leaders-advocate-for-female-empowerment-and-mentorship

### 2026-10-12: African stakeholders call for increased leadership training for girls

Advocates in Nigeria and South Africa are calling for increased leadership training and support for girls to overcome systemic barriers and improve female representation in leadership roles.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/african-stakeholders-call-for-increased-leadership-training-for-girls

### 2026-10-09: African stakeholders call for investment in girls' leadership and STEM skills

African stakeholders are calling for increased investment in girls' leadership, STEM education, and digital skills to ensure their participation in decision-making and national development.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/african-stakeholders-call-for-investment-in-girls-leadership-and-stem-skills

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Cite as: African advocacy for girls' leadership and STEM. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/african-advocacy-for-girls-leadership-and-stem