International Day of Women and Girls in Science
On February 11, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day
that calls us to reflect, recommit, and reimagine a future where women and girls are fully
represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
At Kuza STEAM Generation, this day is deeply personal.
We believe that Africa’s future in science and technology must be inclusive, bold, and led by
diverse voices. As Artificial Intelligence reshapes industries, economies, and societies, we
recognize a critical truth: African women must not be left behind in the AI revolution,they must
help lead it.
It is from this conviction that the African Women School of AI (ASAI) was born.
Building Africa’s Women Leaders in AI
The African Women School of AI (ASAI) is our flagship program dedicated to equipping
African women with the technical skills, research capacity, leadership confidence, and networks
necessary to thrive in the AI ecosystem.
ASAI was designed not simply as a training course, but as a transformational journey. We
envisioned a space where African women could:
● Gain hands-on experience in AI and machine learning
● Engage in critical discussions around ethical and responsible AI
● Conduct research relevant to African contexts
● Develop innovative, impact-driven projects
● Build a community of collaborators across borders
● And in our first cohort, that vision became reality.
Celebrating the First Cohort of ASAI
The inaugural ASAI cohort brought together a dynamic group of African women from diverse
backgrounds technologists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders united by a shared
purpose: to shape Africa’s AI future.
Throughout the program, participants moved beyond theory. They conducted research, explored
real-world AI applications, and developed projects addressing pressing societal challenges. From
data-driven insights to innovative AI solutions tailored to local needs, the cohort demonstrated
what is possible when women are given access, opportunity, and support.
Their work reflected not only technical growth, but leadership growth. They collaborated across
disciplines, strengthened their analytical thinking, and deepened their understanding of ethical AI
practices ensuring that the technologies they build are inclusive, fair, and contextually relevant.
What stood out most was not just the quality of the projects, but the confidence that emerged.
The women of ASAI are no longer observers of the AI transformation; they are contributors,
innovators, and advocates within it.
Why This Matters for Africa
Africa stands at a pivotal moment. As AI becomes central to sectors such as healthcare,
agriculture, finance, education, and climate resilience, the continent needs diverse minds shaping
these systems.
● When African women participate fully in AI:
● Innovation becomes more representative of our communities
● Solutions are grounded in lived realities
● Bias in technology is challenged at its roots
● Young girls see visible role models in advanced tech spaces
Through ASAI, we are not only building technical capacity, we are building an ecosystem where
African women can influence policy, research, entrepreneurship, and technological development.
Together, we are building a generation of African women who are not just participating in
science and AI they are redefining it.
Because when African women rise in science, Africa rises with them.
By Abigaili Emanuel