International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Celebrating African Women Leading Discovery and Innovation

Every year on February 11, we honor the immense contributions of women and girls in science — those whose curiosity has led to discovery, whose tenacity has driven innovation, and whose brilliance is transforming our world.

As an African woman who grew up watching science feel both distant and thrilling, I know firsthand how powerful representation can be. I didn’t grow up with microscopes clearly laid out or chemistry sets under the Christmas tree — but I did grow up with a burning curiosity about how things worked, and a deep belief that curiosity should never have a gender boundary. That belief carried me through classrooms, libraries, digital learning spaces, and into partnerships and communities where I now work to create opportunities for women and girls to see themselves in science.

Today, we celebrate not just stories — but real progress and the challenges that still persist.

By the Numbers: Women in STEM in Africa

While the narrative is often one of underrepresentation, the data tells a nuanced story of both progress and persistent gaps:

Nearly half of STEM graduates in Africa are women (47%) — a higher share than in Europe, Asia, and North America. This means African universities are leading the world in graduating women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

But representation narrows sharply in the workforce — in sub-Saharan Africa, women hold about 30% of STEM sector roles, a figure only slightly above the global average.

Women are still scarce in leadership and technical roles — fewer than 20% of tech leadership roles on the continent are held by women, and even fewer women lead billion-dollar companies in STEM sectors.

And in specialized research fields, the gap deepens — fewer than 15% of engineering and technology researchers are women in some West and Central African countries.

These numbers show both real progress — especially in female STEM graduates — and the work still ahead in ensuring that women not only enter STEM but thrive in long-term careers and leadership positions.

African Women Who Inspire and Innovate

Across the continent, women are leading science, research, and technological breakthroughs:

• Dr. Quarraisha Abdool Karim (South Africa) — whose work in epidemiology has transformed HIV prevention policy and practice.

• Dr. Rose Leke (Cameroon) — an immunologist whose work advances vaccine research and global health equity.

• Dr. Tebello Nyokong (South Africa) — chemist pioneering new cancer treatment research.

• Dr. Francisca Nneka Okeke (Nigeria) — physicist championing women’s representation and research excellence.

• Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (Mauritius) — biodiversity scientist linking indigenous knowledge with global scientific progress.

• Dr. Juliana Rotich (Kenya) — technologist and innovator whose data tools strengthen community responses and tech ecosystems.

These are not solitary examples — they represent a growing movement of women shaping science from the lab to the leadership table.