Stanbic Bank Ghana in partnership with KNUST’s Women in STEM (WiSTEM) has launched a five-day boot camp to empower girls and young women in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The camp which seeks to also bridge the gender gap in STEM courses and careers in the country is on the theme, “Equipping females with a complete skills-set for addressing future developmental challenges”.

Speaking at the opening ceremony graced by many dignitaries including Patricia Appiagyei (MP, Asokwa), Head of Business Enablement at Stanbic Bank, Marian Amartey acknowledged the critical role STEM plays in today’s technological environment and reiterated Stanbic Bank’s commitment to encouraging development in this pivotal field of study.

“Stanbic Bank is very grateful to KNUST and the WiSTEM for the unique opportunity to be part of this laudable effort to inculcate a love of STEM into Senior High School girls. Ghana is our home, and we will continue to drive her growth by investing in the next generation of leaders.

"Stanbic Bank is committed to promoting STEM education as well as solving the STEM gender gap to foster sustained inclusion and equality for generations to come”, she said.

Marian also implored the girls to aspire higher and avoid self-censorship because sexual dimorphism according to her, only exists in books and in the minds of people.

“Don’t limit yourselves in any way, keep those dreams alive because we share in your dreams and believe you can achieve everything you put your mind to. None of the reasons for the lack of women in STEM indicates that it is due to biological differences.

"Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game. Let’s make it a point to leave here with a renewed mind, confidence goals and a will to conquer the world of science”, she added.

Two Hundred girls from 23 Senior High Schools will have the opportunity to learn and develop their skills and knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through a series of activities and training programs with facilitators from Women in STEM Ghana, Stanbic Bank and other leaders in STEM.

The students will also be taken through reproductive health, personal grooming and financial literacy sessions from Monday, September 26 to Thursday, September 29.

The highlight of the camp will be the ‘Stanbic/WiSTEM Challenge’ with exciting prizes for the young delegates.

Stanbic Bank Ghana has partnered with many academic institutions and FinTechs to deliver a number of STEM-related projects which have so far given beneficiaries access to about 300 mentors and advisors across 48 disciplines and technical areas, access to structured training programs and curriculum, internship opportunities with Stanbic Bank, and other partners, and due diligence simulations for student entrepreneurs, most of whom are women.