KNUST hosts FemSTEM Africa 2026
KNUST hosts FemSTEM Africa 2026 to empower women health innovators
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in partnership with the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) and the Mastercard Foundation, has hosted the maiden edition of FemSTEM Africa 2026.
This transformative initiative aims to nurture the next generation of women leaders in health innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa.
Held under the theme “From Vision to Venture: Women Leading Health Innovation”, the two-day conference is expected to bring together over 300 female students from STEM-focused Senior High Schools across the Ashanti Region, as well as university students and emerging entrepreneurs seeking to scale their health-related ventures.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Principal Investigator of the Africa Health Collaborative at KNUST, Professor Ellis Owusu Dabo, explained that FemSTEM Africa was established to expose young women to entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership opportunities at an early stage of their academic and professional journeys. He observed that, although women constitute a significant proportion of the global health workforce, they remain underrepresented among founders, innovators, and investors in the health sector.
“Women bring unique perspectives and solutions to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing our communities. By increasing female participation in innovation and entrepreneurship, we can unlock transformative ideas that improve lives and strengthen health systems,” he stated.
Professor Owusu Dabo challenged participants to view societal and health-related challenges as opportunities for innovation and enterprise development. He encouraged them to cultivate curiosity, strengthen their digital competencies, seek mentorship, and embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines as powerful tools for solving real-world problems.
The Head of the Africa Health Collaborative Secretariat and Senior Director of International Relations at the University of Toronto, Dr. Penina Lam, highlighted the life-changing potential of entrepreneurship and urged participants to pursue their ideas boldly, regardless of how modest they may appear.
“There is no business idea too small. Go forth, test it, refine it, and learn from the process. Even if it fails the first time, the lessons gained will prepare you for future opportunities,” she advised.
Dr. Lam encouraged the students to remain alert to opportunities within their homes, schools, and communities, stressing that many impactful innovations originate from everyday experiences and observations.
