Adeola Oyewole took part in the 9th African Population Conference
The 9th African Population Conference themed «Road to 2030: Leveraging Africa’s human capital to achieve transformation in a world of uncertainty» was held between 20th – 24th May, 2024 at the BICC international conference center, Lilongwe, Malawi.
At the conference, Adeola Oyewole, a research assistant of our Laboratory, presented the paper titled «Exploring the perceptions of female students on the role of gender stereotypes in the enrolment and retention of females in STEM in Nigerian universities» at the session Gender-responsive policies and socio-economic inequalities.
Using a qualitative approach, the study explores the perceptions of female students on how gender stereotypes influence the enrolment and retention of females in STEM fields. The study reveals that due to societal misconception that women lack the aptitude to succeed in STEM disciplines as well as personal barriers such as a negative self-perception or attitude, a lack of self-assurance and a feeling of inferiority as a result of socialization, young girls are less motivated to enrol and become professionals in STEM. Finally, the paper recommends practical measures for policy makers as well as STEM educators in Nigeria and other African countries to encourage female participation in STEM as this will foster sustainable development in the region.
Ultimately, the 9th APC conference was an amazing opportunity to gain indepth knowledge as well as increase exposure and network as Adeola interacted closely with experts in the African population and development field.
