In The Media

Foundation starts software programming training for youths

Working to Advance Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation, an NGO on Tuesday commenced its `She Hacks Africa’, a camping computer programming training for youths in Lagos. Dr Unoma Okorafor, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation said this in a statement by Ms Loveth Ubi, the Business Development Manager in Abuja. Okorafor said that the programme, the third edition by the organisation, would hold from Oct. 3 to Oct. 27, was aimed at building the self confidence in African youths as technology innovators and entrepreneurs. According to Okorafor, computer programming can be applied in all work areas to ameliorate the enormous problems the African continent faces. “She Hacks Africa Coding Boot Camp is a three to four weeks intensive in-person training workshop on software development, leadership and entrepreneurship.” – Read more

WAAW Foundation – 2016 ITU & UN Women GEM Tech Award Winner

November 16, 2016

Three organizations received today the 2016 GEM-TECH Award for their outstanding work on behalf women and girls inclusion in the digital world at Telecom World in Bangkok, Thailand, today. In the category for “Promoting Women in the Technology Sector” the winner: Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation, Regional – Sub Saharan African received the award for its work providing training, mentorship and scholarships aimed at increasing the pipeline of women entering STEM fields as leaders and technology innovators.
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Foundation trains students in renewable energy

PUNCH, August 18, 2016

The Working to Advance African Women Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has trained female secondary school students in how to generate electricity through renewable energy sources. It stated that after a week-long training for 38 schoolgirls in Abuja, the trainees were able to build a wind turbine through which electricity was generated.

Speaking on the sidelines of the closing ceremony for the training, the Founder/Chief Executive Officer, WAAW Foundation, Dr. Unoma Okorafor, told our correspondent that her organisation had great interest in promoting clean energy not just in Nigeria but across Africa. Read more

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for African Women

AWP Network, June 20, 2016

WAAW foundation and AWELE Academy recently announced the launch of a technology leadership and entrepreneurship bootcamp in Lagos, Nigeria. The AWELE academy is an immersive software engineering school for African women that focuses on technology leadership and entrepreneurship. AWELE Academy is part of Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the pipeline of African women entering into Science and Technology fields and ensure they are engaged in technology innovation to benefit Africa. Read more

Foundation holds Science camp for female students

DAILY TRUST, August 16, 2016

Thirty eight female students have completed a six-day intensive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) course in Abuja. The course was part of measures at improving competitiveness in science and technology in the country.The students were drawn from all states including Abuja. The fourth session of the annual event organised by the United States-based Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) Foundation, SASOL, Afritex Initiative and ETSD Foundation was majorly focused on alternate energy (electricity) generation and “Computing, Robotic and Renewable Energy” Read more

NGO wants youths’ involvement in Technology

THE HERALD, August 13, 2016

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Working To Advance Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education for African Girls, on Saturday urged youths to embrace technology, saying it was tool for economic growth. Founder of the organisation, Dr Unoma Okorafor, made the call while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the 2016 Computing, Robotics and Renewable Energy Camp” organised by the foundation in Abuja. Read more

Girls meet tech at Google-WAAW training

GUARDIAN. October 16, 2015

ALTHOUGH the figures vary from study to study, it is an established fact that there are more women than men on the internet. In this century, it is almost impossible to develop as an individual, organisation or country without the right amount of computer literacy and access.

To address the short change of girls in the area of Information and Communication Technology, Google in partnership with Working to Advance African Women, WAAW Foundation and Vision Spring Initiative, VSI, has trained female students from four secondary schools in Lagos on computer programming activities using Arduino, Rasberry Pi and Javascript.

Speaking during the two-day training workshop, WAAW’s Operations Director, Florence Ogunbor said that the programme which targeted secondary school girls within the age of 12-14 years was aimed at developing the interest of girls in science and technology by getting them involved in simple and computer programming activities. Read more or follow this link: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/girls-meet-tech-at-google-waaw-training/?utm_content=buffereba06&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Foundation hones skills of female scientists in Lagos

NEW TELEGRAPH. August 25, 2015

Towards improved competitiveness in science and technology development in Africa, and Nigeria in particular, about 38 female pupils across various secondary schools in Lagos were, penultimate week, camped at Greensprings Secondary School, Anthony, where their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) were inspired. The event was organised by the United States of America-based Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) Foundation.

The STEM camp, which was the third in its series to be held in the country, was an eye opener to the participants, who expressed their renewed optimism to invest their future in science and technology. One of the participants, a 15-year-old pupil of Mind Builders High School, Ikeja, Eunice Iluonaze, whose group after the week-long practical training built a solar powered energy to power pump machine, said her passion for science had been heightened by the experience garnered at the camp.

Read more or follow this link: http://newtelegraphonline.com/foundation-hones-skills-of-female-scientists-in-lagos/

Foundation empowers teens with ICT Skills

THE NATION. August 24, 2014

In its quest to build the skills set of teenagers in the area of information and communication technology, Working to Advance Science and Technology Education for African Woman (WAAW), a nonprofit, nongovernmental organisation, organised a capacity building workshop for public and private secondary school girls.

Justifying the need for the workshop, its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mrs. Unoma Okoroafor, said the foundation is committed to ensuring that every young girl is adequately empowered through the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme, a one-week long camp meeting aimed at training, mentoring and inspiring secondary school girls to explore science-related careers.

Nigeria needs more women in Engineering fields – Dr. Unoma Ndili Okorafor

DAILY INDEPENDENCE. August 13, 2014

Dr. Unoma Okorafor, a Computer and Electrical buy modafinil spier Engineer and graduate of University of Lagos is the founder of Working to Advance African Women (WAAW). She spoke with CORRESPONDENT, Oyeniran Apata at the end of a three-week camping organised for young secondary girls where various projects on the application of computer technology to solve local problems were exhibited.

Why Women should be social Enterpreneurs

THE NATIONS. August 10, 2014

Dr. Unoma Okoroafor, a computer engineer by profession, is also founder and Chief Executive Officer, Working to Advance Science and Technology Education for African Woman (WAAW), an organisation which empowers African women by building their skills in the area of science and technology with a view to making them self-reliant. In this interview with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf, she shares her experience working with women across the West African sub-region.

What is the main driving spirit for the programmes initiated by your organisation?

I’m very passionate about promoting female education because we all know that if you empower a girl, that you actually empower a community; if you educate a girl, you educate a nation. Girls are the ones, when they are educated, they make sure that their own children and the generations to come are educated.

WAAW boosts African women’s interest in science-related careers

GUARDIAN. August 7, 2014

Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), has reiterated its commitment to boosting advancement of African girls in STEM education. Its President, Dr. Mrs. Unoma Ndili Okorafor, who stressed that female education is the way forward for Nigeria and Africa as a whole, added that attracting the girls to have interest in science programmes, and encouraging them to use technology and change the world, would encourage real problem solving in various communities.

WAAW Boosts African Women’s interest in Science-related Careers

ALLAFRICA.COM. August 7,2014

At the closing ceremony of a one-week residential STEM camp for African girls in senior secondary schools recently held at the Global International College, Lekki, Lagos, with the theme, “Computing, Robotics and Renewable Energy For Africa”, the engineering expert argued that if women are greatly empowered, the children, community and the nation at large are by extension empowered.

Layiwola, Nwosu-Igbo for WAAW Foundation STEM camp for African girls

NEW TELEGRAPH. July 25, 2014

Renowned bronze caster and lecturer of Arts and Art History at University of Lagos, Professor Peju Layiwola, installation artist and poet, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, and the Executive Director of Women Technology Empowering Center, Ore Somolu are among female role models and experts who will make presentations in the second Robotics And Renewable STEM Camp for African Girls in Lagos, Nigeria, organised by WAAW Foundation.

The programme which will be held at the Global International School Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, from July 28 to August 2, 2014, is a high quality, exciting and technically challenging one week residential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp for African Girls ages 13 to 17. It is on the theme “Robotics and Computer Programming and Renewable Energy for Africa.”

WAAW Foundation Founder received Anita Borg’s Award

PUNCH. 8/11/2013

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Dr. Unoma Ndili Okorafor, Founder, WAAW Foundation received the 2013 Anita Borg’s award on October 3, 2013 at the 13th Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing (GHC) at Minneapolis, United states.

WAAW Foundation Announces the opening of its 2014 Scholarship

OPPORTUNITIESFORAFRICANS.COM. 08/23/2013

The Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) foundation’s annual scholarship initiative is aimed at supporting need based African female STEM-focused college education.

WAAW Foundation Reward Innovation in Schools

NIGERIA COMMUNICATIONS WEEK. 08/22/2013

Etisalat has sponsored this year’s Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation science camp for girls, in further demonstration of its commitment to empower young people through quality education.

Next generation of female Nigerian inventors unveiled

DAILY INDEPENDENCE. 08/15/2013

It was, indeed, a one week of residential brain-teasing guided by Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) modules, as the young girls got their hands on the desks to design and make various types of robots and alternative energy generation.

The Anita Borg Institute Announces Winners of 2013 Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) ABIE Awards

MARKET WIRE. 07/31/2013

Dr. Unoma Okorafor, Founder and CEO of WAAW Foundation has been selected as an ABIE Change Agent Awards Winner. The award recipients will be Recognized at October Celebration in Minnesota where they will be honored for Leadership, Social Impact, and Education.

Women Foundation camps girls for Science Education

PUNCH. 07/26/2013

Founder and Chief Executive of Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women, Dr Unoma Okorafor, has said that the need to inspire girls into performing well in Science and Technology informed a STEM Camp it is holding for them in Lagos.

Foundation organizes STEM camp for school girls

BLUE PRINT. 07/16/2013

The Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation in partnership with Women Technology Empowerment Center (W.TEC) is organizing a one week residential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp for African Girls in the categories of senior secondary school1 to3, from July 28th to August 3rd at Laureate College, Aviation Estate, Mafoluku, Lagos.

WAAW Foundation Announces 2013 Scholarship Recipient

SBWIRE. 05/20/2013

Wylie, TX — (SBWIRE) The scholarships of $500/year are for African women who have gained undergraduate admission to an institution of higher learning in Africa and are studying a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) related course.

WAAW Foundation Robotics and Renewable STEM Camp for African Girls

SBWIRE. 02/25/2013

Wylie, TX — (SBWIRE) Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation is launching a high quality, exciting and technically challenging one week residential Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) camp for African Girls in Senior Secondary School (9th to 12th Grades). The theme of the camp is Robotics and Renewable Energy. The camp will be help from July 28th to August 3rd in Lagos, Nigeria.

WAAW Foundation Receives grant from Google Rise

DEAL BREAKER. 2/25/2013

Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation recently was awarded a grant from Google Rise – Roots in Science and Engineering. This grant will enable WAAW Foundation to expand and continue the STEM Outreach program providing role models from universities to secondary school students.

Google Rise Visits WAAW Foundation Office in Lagos and Abuja Nigeria

WAAW Foundation Launches its College to Secondary Outreach Program

For more WAAW Foundation Events, Media and Spotlight click here to download our 2013 media kit.