STEMi Makers Africa - Female Innovator of the Year
Company: STEMi Makers Africa
Company Description: STEMi Makers Africa
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Innovator of the Year – Government or Non-Profit –More Than 2,500 Employees
Nomination Title: AMANDA OBIDIKE
My work addresses the leaky unemployment pipeline, and breaks the wall of Inheriting fragmented and disconnected education institutions in Africa. As a social innovator, I strengthen competencies, empower the next generation of Technologists, Engineers, and Innovators by training Educators with new, research-based instructional pedagogy, hands-on resource tools to ensure their students are allowed to solve ill-defined problems, make real-world connections while deepening their content knowledge and preparing them for STEM careers.
To remain competitive in a growing global economy where 96% of jobs are now automated, I am raising African's achievement in STEM Subjects, and Skills of the Future by empowering Educators, marginalized communities and talents to be self-reliant or effectively transition from education to employment.
- In 2020, I was given the Global Award for Achievement by TechWomen 100, in recognition of leading the way for future generations of tech talent.
- Rising Star Award Winner of DITA Microsoft;
- Female Innovator of the Year: Gold Stevie Award,
- Technology Rising Star Award by WOC; Michigan,
- 30 Under 30 Inspiring Leaders of Africa;
- Positive Impact Award of Athena40: The World Most Innovative Women, 2020;
- 100 Leading Ladies in Africa,
- Role Model Finalist in Booking.com Technology Playmakers Awards, for successfully championing diversity in technology and innovation for the girl child.
- Female Leader of the Year, 2019 in strengthening the rights and capabilities of adolescent girls and women and advancing the progress towards the SDG1, 3,4,5 and 7.
In 2019, I led a cross-functional team in designing a technology solution that makes STEM equitable, inclusive, and diverse for young women in MENA nations and Africa. This technology solution - Project Kuongoza mentoring program - combines capacity development in STEM and mentorship to support women aged 15 -35 access new markets, work flexibly and integrate these learned skills needed for the workplace - after being mentored. Through this initiative, we championed the highest groundbreaking record of 895 young girls in Africa and provided career opportunities to 118 women.
I designed a first-to-market, teacher-centred learning management platform using the "Africa By Us, For Us" approach with little or no internet required for Educators to host virtual lab sessions, assign project-based tasks and research activities for students to build, create and pursue careers in STEM and Innovation. Through this innovation, 500+ Educators, 4,004 students are onboard the platform and we became a Falling Walls Berlin Engage Finalist for Breakthrough of the Year in the Digital Education category, 2020.
Reference any attachments of supporting materials
Attaching impact reports that highlight the impacts made across the countries we work in Africa.