HELD ON THE 11 TH OF FEBRUARY, 2021

In its effort to promote science and empower women and girls in Northern Nigeria through the
knowledge of science, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) had on
the 11 th of February, 2021 organized a twitter chat to join the international community in
celebrating this important day. The guest at the twitter chat was Nasiba Babale, a Medical
Laboratory Scientist with Department of Chemical Pathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
and the discussion centred around “Leveraging on the Power of Science to Empower Women
and Girls in Northern Nigeria”
In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and
further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations
General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 declaring 11 February as the International Day
of Women and Girls in Science.
At present, less than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women. According to UNESCO
data (2014 – 2016), only around 30 per cent of all female students select STEM-related fields in
higher education. Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3 per cent), natural
science, mathematics and statistics (5 per cent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction
(8 per cent).
Discussions:
Good afternoon everyone,
Join me to welcome @ICTAdvocates's guest, @NaseebaBabale, a Medical Laboratory Scientist
with AKTH who will discuss on How we can Leverage on the power of Science to Empower
Women in Northern Nigeria in celebration of #InternationalDayOfWomenInScience
Hello everyone. It is nice to be hear.
Question:
It's our pleasure having you, Ma. Can we start by telling us how important science is to the life
of women especially in northern Nigeria. @YZYau @fareedear @ICTAdvocates @APC_News
@sagiru_ado @kamalkano @IsaKamilu @teemerh_beekay @nissimase
Answers:
We live in the 21st century where almost everything is somehow connected to science and
technology. As such, it is important to the lives of women, especially in this region where
women are still left behind in some aspects of societal life in which science is at the fore front.

Women also need to pursue careers in science in order to move in line with the demands of the
21st century.
Women need the knowledge of science in every aspect of their lives. They need it to know how
to take care of themselves, how to stay healthy, what to eat, how to preserve food at home,
how to get rid of pests.
Questions:
So let's look at the importance of science from the economic perspective, as an expert in the
area how do you think this area of knowledge will salvage women from this part of the country
from the bandage of poverty? @NaseebaBabale @YZYau @ICTAdvocates @teemerh_beekay
@nissimase
Answers:
There are a lot of careers in science women can pursue in order to get rid of poverty. For those
unable to do that, they can use scientific principles that can be used as basis for entreprenual
purposes. For example, scientific knowledge is used in making perfumes, soaps, etc
For those involved in production, they can use science to boost their level of production and
hence their profits. Science can also help them know ways to conserve energy and maximize
profit.
Question:
Are all these knowledge available and accessible to women in our communities, if not how can
we make them available and accessible?
Answer:
Some of them are available in schools as part of the curriculum in science subjects. It is just left
to women to use that knowledge and apply it to real life scenarios. Some of the knowledge
would have to be disseminated through trainings, workshops and seminars.
Questions:
As an expert in the area, what advice can you offer to these women in order to be tapping from
these opportunities? @YZYau @ICTAdvocates @teemerh_beekay @kamalkano @IsaKamilu
And also what are your recommendations to give in order to invest more in the area?
@NaseebaBabale @teemerh_beekay @YZYau @ICTAdvocates @sagirchedi @kamalkano
@anasadomusa

Answers:
We need more training sessions for women in science. We need to teach science in our local
languages in order to have more understanding, especially for women in the rural areas.
Women wanting to pursue careers in science should be supported by their parents, spouses
and society.
They also need to seek knowledge from those who can help them understand how to apply
them in order to help themselves.
Women in science need to pay attention to what they are being taught in class. A lot of those
are things they can use to their advantage. They need to stop the idea of reading to pass exams
and dumping the knowledge after that.

They also need to seek knowledge from those who can help them understand how to apply
them in order to help themselves.
Here we come to the end of this discussion with @NaseebaBabale, who spent the last 1 hour
discussing on How to Leverage on the Power of Science to Empower Women in Northern Nig. in
celebration of #InternationalDayOfWomenInScience thank you so much for the fruitful
discussion, Ma.
It's my pleasure. I will be glad to participate any time you need me.