Oparanya Calls for Greater Investment in Women as Africa Seeks to Harness STEM Talent

Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya has called for increased investment in women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), saying their skills and innovations will be critical to Africa’s economic transformation.

Speaking at the Women in STEM Africa Summit 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Oparanya said Africa must move beyond generating ideas and create practical pathways through which women and young innovators can turn their skills and innovations into sustainable enterprises.

The two-day summit, organised by Women in Technology and Innovation Africa (WITIA) in partnership with UNESCO, brought together policymakers, educators, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, students and development partners to discuss the future of Africa’s innovation economy.

Held under the theme **“Discovering Talent. Driving Innovation. Shaping Africa’s Future,”** the summit focused on leadership, policy, innovation, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, research and opportunities for women and girls in STEM.

Oparanya, who was the Chief Guest, emphasised that STEM development must be closely linked to entrepreneurship, enterprise development and access to markets.

He said women innovators need more than technical skills to succeed, stressing the importance of access to finance, markets, mentorship and professional networks.

According to the CS, positioning women at the centre of Africa’s technological and enterprise transformation would help unlock a vast pool of talent while creating jobs and strengthening the continent’s competitiveness.

His message also reflects the growing importance of technology in Kenya’s MSME sector, where digital transformation and innovation are increasingly becoming essential tools for businesses seeking to expand, improve productivity and access new markets.

The summit provided an important platform for stakeholders to examine how governments, the private sector, academia, development partners and investors can work together to create an enabling environment for women and girls to participate meaningfully in the digital and innovation economy.

Oparanya’s emphasis on connecting STEM with enterprise development also places women entrepreneurs at the heart of Kenya’s broader economic transformation agenda.

The summit was attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba and Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, alongside WITIA Founder and Chair Eunice Pohlmann, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead Gracie Wamwandu and other leaders from government, industry, academia and the technology ecosystem.

The gathering underscored the need for Africa to deliberately nurture its young talent and ensure that women and girls are not left behind as technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation reshape economies.

For Oparanya, the message is clear: Africa’s future economic strength will depend not only on producing innovative ideas but also on creating the skills, financing, markets and institutions needed to turn those ideas into viable businesses.

Greater investment in women in STEM, therefore, represents not just an equality agenda, but a strategic investment in Africa’s enterprise economy, innovation capacity and long-term prosperity.