AfDB-Backed STEM Network in Nigeria Helps Shape Africa’s Next Scientific Leaders

In Abuja, Nigeria's capital, the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) is playing a growing role in a continent-wide push to strengthen advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education — while opening new pathways for women to lead in scientific fields historically dominated by men.

Supported by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), AUST is part of a regional network of postgraduate centres of excellence designed to cultivate Africa's next generation of researchers and innovators.

Building World-Class Research Capacity Across Africa

Through the Nelson Mandela Institute – African Institutions of Science and Technology (NMI–AIST) Project, implemented in two phases from 2010 until its conclusion in 2022, the AfDB supported three flagship institutions:

• International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

• African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Nigeria

• Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania

Together, these centres form a pan-African network delivering world-class postgraduate training, strengthening research ecosystems, and anchoring scientific solutions to development challenges across the continent.

Within this network, AUST represents Nigeria's participation and has emerged as a key hub for advancing women's inclusion in science.

Women in Science and Engineering Initiative Driving Change

A major force behind this progress is AfDB's Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) initiative, which promotes access, leadership, and visibility for women in high-impact STEM fields.

Through scholarships, mentorship, and research support, WiSE has enabled women scholars to:

• Pursue advanced degrees

• Access equipment and global research networks

• Contribute to scientific innovation

• Move into leadership roles in academia, industry and national research institutions

Spotlight on Emerging Women Scientific Leaders

Among the programme's beneficiaries is Dr Aisha Aminu, a mathematician specialising in nonlinear operator theory. Her doctoral studies were financed through the NMI–AIST project, helping position her as an emerging leader in advanced mathematical research.

In 2025, she was selected for the prestigious Heidelberg Laureate Forum, joining some of the world's most promising young researchers.

"Receiving the African Development Bank Group financing to study at AUST connected me to mentors, equipment and a research community I wouldn't have had access to otherwise," she said. "That support helped me stay the course and aim even higher."

Another AfDB-supported alumna, Dr Stella Nwachukwu-Dozie, is conducting pioneering work on biosynthesised gold nanoparticles for targeted breast cancer treatment.

She now serves as Principal Laboratory Scientist at Nigeria's National Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Advanced Laboratory (SHESTCO), demonstrating how Bank-funded training is translating into nationally relevant scientific expertise.

STEM Support Begins Before University

The AfDB's commitment to women in science begins well before postgraduate study.

In Nigeria, project-backed activities have included STEM outreach in secondary schools, including:

• A 2021 campaign reaching 310 students, including 279 girls

• Coding camps designed to spark early interest in technology careers among teenage girls

These efforts aim to strengthen the pipeline of young women entering scientific and engineering pathways.

Strong Results at AUST Abuja

The impact of the project is reflected in measurable outcomes at AUST:

• 398 MSc and PhD graduates, with women representing roughly 35 percent

• 149 visiting faculty missions, improving teaching quality and supervision

• Upgraded laboratories, ICT infrastructure, and expanded access to scientific journals

• Significant growth in peer-reviewed scientific output

Scholarships have been central to expanding access, with:

• 115 MSc awards

• 90 PhD awards

Supporting students from across Africa.

The university's AUSTInspire hub has also helped nurture around 15 student- and faculty-led startups, strengthening links between research and entrepreneurship.

Research Tackling Africa's Development Challenges

Research underway at AUST is focused on high-impact areas including:

• Cancer care, in partnership with the National Hospital Abuja

• Nanoparticle-based remediation for oil-spill zones in the Niger Delta

• Sustainable construction materials and energy systems

These projects highlight how advanced STEM training is being applied to pressing national and regional priorities.

A Model for Inclusive Growth and Long-Term Resilience

This Nigeria spotlight reflects the broader achievements of the NMI–AIST Project across Africa — particularly in advancing women in STEM — and demonstrates how AfDB investments are helping build the scientific leadership needed for inclusive growth and long-term resilience.

By strengthening institutions like AUST, supporting women researchers, and linking science to real-world development challenges, the African Development Bank Group is helping Africa shape a future driven by innovation, equity and homegrown expertise.