The Minister of Science Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday said women occupy a place of pre-eminence
in the society and therefore they should not be relegated to the background especially in the scientific scheme of things.
Dr. Onu, in a statement signed by his media aide, Mr. AbdulGaniyu Aminu, said the ministry invites the women group to get involved with the ministry’s sensitization programme to selected schools in the bid to encourage students to embrace science subjects.
He said: “The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, is to partner with the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing world (OWSD) to work out an affirmative programme that will encourage young girls to develop interest in the study of science subjects.
Onu, according to Aminu, made the commitment when the National Executive members and the Local Organizing Committee of the Organization paid him a working visit in his office in Abuja.
He said members of the organization are well- placed for the task of motivating the girls-child, adding that with their success in their various fields, they are real role models for upcoming young girls.
He further said that since women constitute more than half of Nigeria’s population, they should not be relegated to the background in the scientific scheme of things. Dr. Onu invited the women group to get involved with the ministry’s sensitization programme to selected schools in the bid to encourage students to embrace science subjects.
He added, the future of Nigeria, depends on Science and Technology and appealed to students, especially the girl child to interest in Science and mathematics.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the organization’s forth coming conference, Dr. Maimuna Habib said that the organization is the first international Forum that unit eminent women scientists from the developing to developed world to contribute and promote women representation in scientific and technological leadership.
She said the conference, with the theme “Role of women scientists in crises management and sustenance of violence free society” will provide the platform for networking of women in economic diversification and empowerment strategies.
Habib said that the proposed conference will come up with a programme that will re-integrate displaced girl into science education. The organization will also penetrate crises-torn places and utilize crises management strategies and conflict resolution measures to assuage their plight.
She explained that the conference will provide a platform for networking of women in economic diversification and employment strategies.