FOUNDERS’ CORNER
The STEM fields are solution-oriented disciplines that can support cutting-edge innovations that respond to the needs of people, the environment, and thriving economies. The MasterCard Foundation’s June 2021 Youth Think Tank Report, titled, “What Makes Young Women Successful in STEM Careers,” noted that the young African women interviewed had “a passion for their fields, which they saw as areas for problem-solving. Their passion was increased by early success in related subject areas. They also had key personal attributes that supported their passion: a high level of confidence, a goal-oriented perspective, and a desire to challenge what is expected of them.” This aligns with the Visiola Foundation’s Theory of Change, which is centered on the provision of high-quality STEM education and experiential learning to girls and women from underserved communities, which improves their academic performance and closes the gender gap in the STEM fields. These collectively yield positive long-term outcomes and impact, while promoting inclusive economies with locally developed innovations that support economic transformation.
Figure 1: The Visiola Foundation’s Theory of Change
We achieve our Theory of Change through our 360-degree Developmental Learning Model, which seeks to build the whole person. We complement and fill the technical knowledge gaps in the public educational system, enhance learning and academic performance through structured and self-driven experiential learning, and facilitate mentorship and exposure to industry to enable students to become employable, employment ready, and/or better equipped entrepreneurs. These three pillars were emphasized in the MasterCard Foundation’s Report, which called on diverse stakeholders to nurture self-confidence and positive self-esteem in African girls and young women; help them establish robust support networks; and be intentionally inclusive.
Much like the Visiola Foundation’s students, those interviewed in the report recognized that it was the practical nature of STEM that made them passionate about it. They saw themselves designing solutions to real-world problems and various STEM tools helped them understand these problems better. That’s why it is so thrilling for me personally to see our students design and build a robotic arm prototype; sensor guided robots used to detect farm intruders and versatile sprinklers for irrigation and distributing pesticides and herbicides; a bascule bridge to facilitate transportation on waterways; a wall painting robot; a robot prototype to assist visually impaired people, and a robotic wheelchair. These are a few examples of the projects built by students in our 2024 STEM Summer Camp.
2024 Has already been an impactful and transformational year for the Visiola Foundation and our bright students. We began by celebrating the Foundation’s 10th Anniversary, recognizing over 12,000 African girls and young women from 10 countries who have participated in our STEM programs since 2014. In the first quarter, we trained 544 junior and senior secondary school students in mobile app development across 25 Government Secondary Schools (GSS) in Abuja through our After-School STEM Clubs for Girls (ASCG) Program. We then celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th with a well-attended inter-school competition, where media personality, Ms. Moky Makura, Executive Director of Africa No Filter, delivered a stirring Keynote Address.
The first cohort of our 2024 Coding Boot Camp welcomed 58 young women from Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya, who participated in our rigorous, eight-week program. 33 successfully completed all the requirements and received certificates of completion. Subsequently, over the summer, we hosted our largest STEM Summer Camp with 100 teenage girls from across Nigeria learning about Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for Sustainable Development. Next, the second cohort of our Coding Boot Camp for Women saw 49 receive certificates, from an initial pool of 75. As we entered the third quarter of the year, we registered 3,225 junior and senior secondary schools in 35 Government secondary schools across Abuja in our ASCG Program. They will learn about Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the last quarter of the year. We will then conclude with our final STEM Camp in December. I am therefore thrilled to share these updates with you as we continue investing in talented African girls and young women from underserved communities.
We are committed to democratizing access to high-quality STEM experiential learning to strengthen the pipeline of ethical, female, African STEM professionals creating innovative solutions that contribute to economic transformation. As I strongly believe, “talent is widely available, but opportunity is not.” Our work is therefore designed to break this, increasing access to life-transforming opportunities for girls, irrespective of their backgrounds.
I hope you enjoy reading about our students’ activities from the first half of this year. Don’t forget to connect with us on social media via X (Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Warm Regards,
Ladé
544 Girls Participate In After-School STEM Clubs
“Nurture the curiosity of girls and young women in these fields by showing them how science and math tools can be used practically and support them to be successful in building their skills from an early age.” MCF 2021
We ran our After-School STEM Clubs for Girls (ASCG) Program in 25 Government Secondary Schools (GSS) between March and May, teaching 544 students mobile app development. Each student completed quizzes, individual, as well as group projects, and built interesting mobile app prototypes, such as:
- Artifact: An app that allows users to explore and appreciate various artworks from artists worldwide in a digital gallery format.
- Next Hub: A job listing app that connects job seekers with potential employers, providing personalized job recommendations and application tools.
- Health Services Emergency App: An app that offers quick access to nearby hospitals and emergency responders, ensuring fast response during health emergencies.
- Digital Wallet App: A secure app that lets users store, manage, and transfer funds easily, supporting payments and tracking expenses.
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ASCG Students working on their Health Services Emergency App
ASCG Students working on their Digital Wallet App
The program concluded with an inter-school competition on Friday, March 8, 2024, in celebration of International Women’s Day. During her Keynote Address, renowned media personality, Ms. Moky Makura (Executive Director of Africa No Filter) inspired the students to recognize the incredibly bright future ahead of them. She challenged all the girls in the room to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the Visiola Foundation’s After-School STEM Clubs for Girls and to strive to be the best versions of themselves, never letting anything hold them back from achieving their full potential.
The judges, Mayowa Felix Ajala (Mobile App Developer), Amarachi Crystal Omereife (Machine Learning Engineer at TUBLIAN), and Mary Kate Ekanem (Information Technology Instructor at New Horizons) had pre-selected the 10 finalists from the initial 25 group projects submitted. The 10 projects that were pitched during the inter-school competition comprised:
- DOC Consult App
A virtual healthcare platform that connects patients with doctors for online consultations and medical advice. - Fake Product Scanner App
An app that verifies product authenticity by scanning barcodes or QR codes and detecting counterfeit items. - School Chat App
A communication tool for students, teachers, and parents to share messages, updates, and assignments within a school community. - Emergency Assistance App
An app providing quick access to emergency services and real-time location sharing during critical situations. - Handyman: A Service Provider App
A service booking platform that connects users with skilled workers like electricians, plumbers, and carpenters for home repairs. - Health Care App
A comprehensive health management app with features like appointment scheduling, medication reminders, and health monitoring. - Health Emergency App
An app that assists users during medical emergencies by contacting emergency services, notifying contacts, and sharing critical health information. - Digital Wallet App
A secure digital wallet that allows users to store payment information, complete transactions, and manage their finances on their mobile devices. - Spell Word App
An educational app that helps users improve their spelling and vocabulary through an interactive game. - SHA – Save Human App
A security app that shares users’ real-time location and alerts their emergency contacts during critical situations. It also helps them keep track of their movements through trails.
In the end, the judges declared the Handyman App the winning project, thanks to its technical design, the practical solution delivered, the effective presentation of the team, and due to the fact that the app worked seamlessly during the demonstration. The Spell Word App designed to help students improve their spelling, and the Fake Product Scanner App were awarded second and third place respectively.
School Chat App
Spell Word App
DOC Consult App
ASCG STUDENTS WIN BIG AT THE EXXONMOBIL FOUNDATION STEM AFRICA COMPETITION
A group of our ASCG students competed in the STEM Africa Competition hosted by the ExxonMobil Foundation in March and scooped the first prize. The competition aimed to promote STEM innovation among young African students, with over 50 teams participating. Our students impressed the judges with their project, “Eco-Filter,” a sustainable water purification system designed for rural communities. Their win earned them a cash award, scholarships, and the chance to attend an international STEM symposium.
The Visiola Foundation ASCG Students, Chisom (14), Chimamanda (15), and Ruqayyah (16) at the competition
ASCG STUDENT COMES FIRST AT ROSELINE ETUOKWU SIGMA NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL QUIZ COMPETITION
Ozavize (15), an ASCG student since 2022, won the Roseline Etuokwu Sigma National Secondary School Quiz Competition on March 28th. This competitive event attracts top-performing students from various secondary schools across the country to test their knowledge in subjects like mathematics, science, history, and general knowledge. Ozavize secured the win due to her outstanding performance, demonstrating exceptional knowledge, quick thinking, and strong problem-solving skills, which set her apart from other participants.
Ozavize (15) on the right, Sigma Foundation’s Representative, ASCG STEM Coordinator, and Chiagozie(14)
ASCG STUDENTS WIN 1ST PLACE AT INTERNATIONAL DAY OF GIRLS IN ICT COMPETITION
The Association of Professional Women Engineers Nigeria (APWEN) organized a competition to mark the International Day of Girls in ICT on Monday, April 25, 2024, and some of our ASCG students won 1st place for their safety robot prototype. Their innovative design featured a robotic system equipped with sensors to detect hazards like gas leaks and fire, while enhancing workplace safety by alerting authorities in real time.
Chisom (14), Chimamanda (15), and Ruqayyah (16) at the competition
33 WOMEN FROM KENYA AND NIGERIA COMPLETE Q1 CODING BOOT CAMP
The Visiola Foundation’s Hybrid Coding Bootcamp was an immersive eight-week training program designed to lay a solid foundation for aspiring computer programmers and tech entrepreneurs. The students learnt web development, including UI/UX Design, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and Django.
In addition to the technical instruction, students benefited from mentoring and coaching through the Visiola Foundation’s Tech Mentor Hangouts held with the following mentors:
- Diana Mutheu, Data Scientist at Roche
- Sobhitha Neelanath, Senior Software Manager at Dell
- Shilu Shrestha, Software Engineer at Aalownc
- Anna Muzykina, Flutter and Full-Stack Developer at Capital D Studio
- Eleanor Deal, Senior Software Developer at CrowdStrike
The boot camp emphasized practical experience through individual assignments and group challenges that sharpened students’ learning, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills. Its goal was to inspire more women to pursue technical careers by equipping them with essential knowledge for success.
The camp concluded with a hybrid closing competition where participants showcased their final group projects:
- Group 1: Developed a task management system app to help users organize, prioritize, and track tasks efficiently.
- Group 2: Created a rental service website for luxury cars, allowing vehicle owners to earn extra income with detailed car information and user validation. (3rd Position)
- Group 3: Designed “SabiFix,” an artisan website that connects users with skilled professionals for household tasks. (2nd Position)
- Group 4: Developed a grocery website offering delivery or pickup of groceries and household essentials.
- Group 5: Created a gas refill website for convenient and safe online ordering of gas cylinder refills. (1st Position)
Outstanding students were recognized in various categories, with Group 5’s Gas Refill website emerging as the winner. The competition was judged by the following tech professionals:
- Emmanuel Daniel, CTO and Senior Software Engineer at Kirgawa Technologies
- Sylvester Nkeze, Senior Software Engineer at Sterling Bank
- Miracle Friday, Full-Stack Software Engineer and Tech Lead at the African Stablecoin Consortium
- Shodeke Bamidele Samson, Flutter Developer at Blossend
- Samuel Ekpoto, Senior Backend Developer at D’Accubin
The boot camp provided technical skills training, as well as soft skills development. The students will further benefit from additional professional growth support, also joining the Foundation’s vibrant Slack Community comprising 270 members from 10 African countries for continuing mentorship and access to job opportunities.
CBC Cohort 1 Students working on their first UI/UX Design Project
Instructor guiding students to build a Prototype Registration Form
An Instructor assisting students to build a Landing page
Students working on a project using JavaScript
693 GIRLS PARTICIPATE IN THE Q2 ASCG PROGRAM
693 junior and senior secondary school girls participated in the second session of the ASCG Program, where they deepened their knowledge of mobile app development. They built interesting projects, such as:
- Mobile Calculator: A simple and user-friendly app that allows users to perform basic arithmetic quickly and efficiently.
- Elec Tracker: An app that helps users calculate and manage their electricity usage, providing insights to reduce consumption and save on bills.
- Education Support App: An app designed to provide educational resources and support for children in underserved communities, enhancing their learning opportunities.
- Creative Portfolio App: An app for creatives to showcase their work, allowing them to post projects, connect with others, and gain visibility in their respective fields.
Students building a Mobile Calculator
Students working on their Elec Tracker App
Students showcasing their Education Support App
Students building their Creative Portfolio App
ASCG STUDENTS WIN 2ND PLACE AT THE TALENT HUNT COMPETITION
A group of ASCG students competed in the Talent Hunt Competition, held among 20 government secondary schools in the FCT and organized by the Nigerian Society of Engineers. Their project was a solar-powered water purification system designed to provide clean drinking water to underserved communities using renewable energy. The students came second in recognition of the high quality of their project and presentation and were awarded a prize of NGN150,000, as well as a scholarship to pursue a STEM degree at any Nigerian university.
Chimamanda (15), Ruqayyah (16), and Tabitha (16) standing at the far left
ASCG STUDENTS CAME 3RD AT THE REGIONAL TECHNOVATION CHALLENGE
The Technovation Challenge is a global competition that encourages young girls to create mobile apps addressing real-world issues, aiming to promote STEM education and entrepreneurship. Administered by Technovation, the competition supports girls aged 10 to 18. Our ASCG students competed against 20 groups in the senior category in Abuja and achieved 3rd place. They developed an app to assist individuals with disabilities, featuring tools like voice-to-text communication, accessible transportation services, and emergency assistance to improve their daily independence.
Esther (15), Gift (16), Aliyah (15) and Ann(15) took 3rd position
THE VISIOLA FOUNDATION CELEBRATED ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY
The Visiola Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the company of 200 in-person and 50 online guests. The event was truly memorable, filled with reflections on our past achievements and inspiring glimpses into our future. Over the past decade, we have empowered more than 12,000 girls and young women across 12 African countries—Ghana, Uganda, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Mauritius, Ethiopia, South Africa, Liberia, Eswatini, and Rwanda—to explore and pursue careers in STEM. As former and current students acknowledged, we are building a continent-wide pipeline and network of ethical and entrepreneurial female, African STEM leaders who can contribute to national and regional development. We are also helping to close the STEM gender gap, facilitating access to jobs, and enabling tech entrepreneurs to create solutions and jobs for the teeming youth population.
As we look back on these 10 remarkable years of life-transforming impact, we are filled with a deep sense of gratitude. The unwavering dedication and support of our Founders, Partners, Board of Directors, and friends of the Visiola Foundation have enabled us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these African girls and young women.
Looking ahead, we remain more committed than ever to expanding our reach and impact. We envision a future where every girl has the opportunity to explore her potential and realize her dreams. Together, we will continue to inspire, educate, and empower the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial female African STEM leaders.
Ladé Araba (President, The Visiola Foundation)
Special Guests Cutting the 10th Anniversary Cake
ASCG STEM Club Coordinators
ASCG Students
The Visiola Foundation Staff
The event featured a Keynote Address delivered by Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), as well as Goodwill Messages from Ms. Cecilia Akintomide (Senior Adviser to the Group CEO of Ecobank and former Secretary General of the African Development Bank), Ms. Anna Ekeledo (Executive Director of Afrilabs), Dr. Rabia Sa’id (Swan Lab Coordinator, Bayero University Kano), and Ms. Ivie Imasogie (Managing Partner at Zynergy Consulting and former Group HR Director at the Sahara Group). They all recognized the tremendous impact of the Visiola Foundation’s programs and challenged the students to take full advantage of the opportunities provided to truly maximize their potential.
During the celebration, six ASCG teams competed, presenting robotic and mobile app prototypes. Three schools presented mobile applications: the Handyman App, a service provider platform that connects users with skilled workers like electricians, plumbers, and carpenters for home repairs; the FPS App (Food Product Scanner), an app that helps users verify the authenticity and quality of food products by scanning barcodes or QR codes; and Spell World, an educational app that helps users improve their spelling and vocabulary through an interactive game. In the end, the Handyman App won in the mobile application category.
Additionally, three schools presented robotics projects, which included Team Robomac’s washing machine, a fully automated, energy-efficient device designed to clean clothes with minimal water and electricity usage. Another project was the smart crane, a programmable robotic crane capable of lifting and transporting heavy loads with precision, aimed at improving construction safety and efficiency. The third project, the elevator pulley system, demonstrated a miniature, functional elevator designed to showcase the mechanics of pulley systems in vertical transportation. Ultimately, Team Robomac’s washing machine emerged as the winner for the robotics category, recognized for its innovative approach to resource conservation.
Princess (15) and Fauziya(15) Presenting an Elevator Prototype
Please enjoy this short video recapping the highlights of the 10th anniversary celebration.
49 AFRICAN WOMEN FROM KENYA, NIGERIA, AND UGANDA GRADUATE FROM BOOTCAMP
49 young women from Kenya (14), Uganda (2), and Nigeria (33) graduated from our intensive eight-week Coding Boot Camp held in June and July. The students were taught data analytics using tools like Git and GitHub, SQL for data manipulation and modeling, Python for programming and data structures, data cleaning and statistical analysis with Pandas and NumPy, and effective data visualization with Matplotlib and Seaborn. In addition to the formal technical instruction, students received mentoring and coaching from seasoned professionals through The Visiola Foundation’s Tech Mentor Hangouts, including Dipika Jain (Design Thinking Strategist at LISA Lead Incubator and Startup Accelerator) and Jumoke Omodeni (Executive Director and Lead Trainer at EcoSciGen).
They worked on individual assignments and group challenges that enhanced their learning, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving abilities. The aim of the boot camp was to encourage more women to pursue technical careers by empowering them with vital knowledge to facilitate their success. The camp ended with a hybrid closing competition where participants presented their final group projects.
The group projects are summarized below:
- Group A – Domestic Violence Analysis: To help understand the correlation between various socioeconomic factors and domestic violence.
- Group B – Exploring Global AI & ML Data Salaries: To understand compensation patterns in the rapidly evolving fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
- Group C – Global Renewable Energy Production Analysis: To provide insights into the growth and distribution of renewable energy production worldwide.
- Group D – Heart Disease Predictions: To identify patterns and key risk factors associated with heart disease.
- Group E – Nvidia Stock 2015 to 2024 Dataset: To provide insights into NVIDIA’s financial trends, market volatility, and factors influencing its stock price.
- Group F – Police Arrests Analysis: To understand the factors influencing police arrests.
- Group G – Medical and Lifestyle Information Dataset: To predict the presence of cancer based on various features.
At the end of the closing competition, Group G won the CBC Cohort 2 2024 competition. Additionally, we were pleased to have Chinaza Elobuike (Data Analyst, TBWA\CONCEPT), Khairat Ayinde (Data Analyst, Anackle Limited), and Okereke Chinweokwu (Co-founder, Roots n Squares Consulting) serve as judges during the closing competition. The students have now joined the Foundation’s alumni network and Slack Community and will be connected with leading employers and opportunities.
CBC Cohort 2 Students Learning SQL
CBC Student
CBC Cohort 2 Students working on a project using Python
Instructors teaching the students Introduction to Data Analytics
