November 8 is National STEM Day! Studies have shown that children are significantly better off with strong science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics skills. That’s why STEM and STEAM education programs are so important. So, to celebrate National STEM day and inspire the next generation, here's our list of 5 Africans making a difference in STEM.
Plus, see our collection of STEM toys and inspire your child to be the next innovator to change the world!
1) Regina Honu
Regina Honu is a Ghanaian software developer and one of the few women making strides in technology in Africa. She founded Soronko Academy, the first coding and human-centred design school for children and young adults in West Africa. She was named by CNN as one of 12 inspirational women who promote STEM. She was also named one of the six women making an impact in tech in Africa. She is raising the next generation of women coders in Africa through her numerous tech initiatives. Her success story has been featured on international media platforms such as the BBC, Aljazeera and Deutsche Welle.
2) Silas Adekunle
Silas is the founder and CEO of Reach Robotics, a company developing the world's first gaming robots. He also recently graduated with a 1st class degree and has a 4 year background in robotics; he is currently located at the Bristol Robotics Lab which is the best robotics research centre in the UK. He managed the Prince’s Trust’s “Robotics in schools” program in Bristol in partnership with UWE for 4 years, leading a team of engineering students into schools to develop the interest of young students in STEM through robotics. Reach Robotics was founded from his love of creating and sharing robotics with people both young and old.
3) Wangari Muta Maathai
Dr. Maathai, the first female professor in her home country of Kenya, was also the first African female recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1977, Dr. Maathia started and led the Green Belt Movement, which aims to counter deforestation. The campaign encouraged women to think ecologically and to plant trees in their local environments, leading to the spread of the movement to other African countries. Dr. Maathai passed away in 2011, but thanks to her efforts, more than thirty million trees have been planted.
4) Margaret Mungherera
Dr. Mungherera was a Ugandan psychiatrist and served as president of the Uganda Medical Association. Quite significantly, she became the first female president of the World Medical Association — elected as such by 50 national medical associations worldwide. She had ambitions of entering the medical field from childhood and has spoken of the challenges faced in the field and the need to believe in yourself to achieve your dreams.
5) Sola Adekunle
Sola Akinlade is the co-founder and CEO of Paystack, one of such disrupters making a bold move to revive the Nigerian payment system. Paystack is a modern payments platform that allows Nigerian merchants to receive funds from anyone, anywhere in the world. Sola's business, Paystack is paving the way for more businesses in Africa to become successful.
"We started Paystack because we believe that better payments tools are one of the most important things that African businesses need to unlock their explosive potential. We think of Paystack as an amplifier of the incredible work that African business owners are already doing. With better technology tools, African businesses can be better equipped to play a growing role in the global economy."
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See our collection of STEM toys and inspire your child to be the next innovator to change the world!