IGNITE, an acronym for Inspiring Girls Now In Technology Evolution; a registered nongovernmental organization, was launched in Nigeria on the 10th of June 2010 at the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate, Lagos, with about 60 High School girls.
Girls are underrepresented in engineering and technology careers. This is a simple fact and a serious education issue. It’s noticed that girls seem to be increasingly influenced by our celebrity-obsessed culture, beauty pageants, entertainment etc. We also have girls in high schools that shy away from anything technology and there is need to help them embrace technology. IGNITE provides equal access to career and technical education for underrepresented populations. We discovered that inviting girls to informational programs where they met women working in STEM careers immediately increased girls’ interest in technology.
Young girls are not receiving the education and information necessary to want to choose STEM careers. IGNITE breaks down barriers for girls by providing women role models, so girls can see that women have done it before them. Professional women in STEM careers share their stories with IGNITE girls: including stories of hardships and obstacles they have overcome to be successful, so girls can see a path to any dream they have. Girls need an intervention to feel the confidence in themselves to pursue these career choices.
Since its launch on June 10th 2010, IGNITE Nigeria has organized programs across different States in Nigeria where over 4,000 girls from High Schools have attended. We have established IGNITE STEM clubs in High Schools within Abuja, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, and Rivers States. We have a projection of having about 20 IGNITE clubs in each of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria by 2020.