Children-in-Science and Technology (CIST)
The Children-in-Science and Technology (CIST) initiative is an innovative project aimed at popularizing science and technology among African children, with a particular emphasis on empowering girls and promoting self-reliance. Operational for over three decades, CIST employs innovative, community-integrated approaches and out-of-school activities to make STEM education accessible and engaging.
The initiative’s structured framework includes year-round programmes designed to celebrate key dates and advance STEM learning. Notable activities include workshops, biennial conferences for training and mentorship, and targeted events such as role-modelling symposia, career talks, and campaigns against harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). CIST also highlights creative STEM expressions through exhibitions, debates, and poetry presentation by girls, as seen during Commonwealth Day and other international observances like the International Day of Happiness and World Health Day.
Contributed by: Prof. Ibiyinka Ogunlade, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria
Ibiyinka Ogunlade (Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology)