Empowering African Women in Stem | Dr. Bella Namango #Y254

in the morning and my good name is Brian Squa. Now in this segment we're delving into matters the STEM sphere in Kenya. Some of the women who are shaping and rewriting the rules in matter stem. Despite tremendous progress in the Kenyan STEM sphere, there still underlying issues that include matter structure and policy gaps. What can we do to address this? And also what is the future of women in STEM? And our guest joining us live in studio is going to help us unpack that conversation. I'm being joined live by Dr. Bella Namango. She's women in technology and innovation Africa and also data privacy manager at British Council plus many other things she does here. Tell us that and much more. Great to have you. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Right. So, let's get to know you a little bit. What is your profile like? I understand it's a very stunning resume. Please let just take us through bits of it and maybe why you're here too as well. First of all, thank you for having me. Uh, I deeply appreciate it and uh, Bella Mango has over 15 years of experience in information security and um, currently I practice at the British Council as the data privacy manager. I also sit on the uh Kenyata University Council as a council member and where I taught before joining the British Council. >> And I also sit on the board for women in technology and innovation Africa. >> Right. >> Well, apart from that, I also sit on the um budget and planning uh women on boards network. >> Yes. which is also an NGO in Kenya that helps women to occupy the space of uh governance on various bodies. You know we have the two3 gender rule in in our constitution. >> Yeah. >> So the the the advocacy in this particular space helps women to occupy the space of governance on various boards. Right. >> Yeah. Private and public sectors. >> Right. So you've worked with both sides of the equilibrium and you've harnessed this you know strong and massive uh what do we call it massive b of information and wisdom and you continue to spread it across uh the tech sector right as well let's get into matter STEM uh literally Africa produces one of the world's highest shares of women in STEM graduates >> yet so few make it to the top is it a talent issue or a policy issue or a country issue and what would you pinpoint exactly that you'd say is behind this massive short changing of women in STEM? >> Um, Africa producing the highest number of women in STEM could be debatable. >> Um, but uh women not occupying this the the space of uh leadership in the area of STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A lot of factors contribute to that and the number one factor for African women is one cultural. >> Most women think that is a space that is for male. >> Yeah. >> Because it's male dominated even >> it is male dominated. You are right. So that is really affects. Uh secondly there is also the economic empowerment. Mhm. >> Um most of our rural areas do not have adequate equipment >> right >> to make a lot of women flourish in that area of STEM. >> So you find out but that by the time somebody gets to uh high school they haven't built up that confidence >> to pursue a a STEM related area. >> Mhm. uh and then they shy off because they're not feeling adequate enough to compete >> right >> with people who already are coming from very welle equipped schools like group of schools you can call them >> or uh you know they could be also uh public schools but are in the urban areas like say St. George's Kenya High Alliance. >> Yeah. >> So you cannot compare with the majority of schools which we have in the rural area, >> right? >> Which are less equipped, >> right? >> But the other thing also is uh the perception of self. >> Mhm. >> Uh which is basically lack of confidence, >> right? >> To just pursue the STEM area for a woman, >> right? >> You feel a little bit like even those who are there, they feel like an imposter syndrome. catches up with them. They don't feel they good enough >> even after gaining a good grade at form four and being admitted in the university to pursue the STEM area. So there is there are a lot of um factors that affect >> yes >> uh women not being uh higher percentage in the STEM area. First of all in admissions at graduation some of them fall off because some of them now become mothers. They want to get married. They're dragged behind by uh the you know the caring duties >> and some of them actually decide to pursue uh other areas that are more comfortable for them. >> Yes. >> As women when they are nurturing and caring for their families. >> Yes. >> So you get that even at graduation the rating goes down. >> Yeah. >> Right. Let me ask you a little bit on you. You sit on Wit's advisory board and also manage data privacy at the British Council. How did this how are these two two worlds colliding and why does this combination in your profile matter for women now in your advocating for this cause of visibility, equity and inclusivity? Uh this is is not specifically a coincidence because in women in technology and innovation Africa our main goal is to empower women to pursue the STEM area specifically technology and being a data protection manager at the British Council uh has exposed me a lot on the information world. >> Right. And when we say the information world, we're talking about of course fintech, we are talking about AI, we're talking about agriitech and so on, >> or women led businesses or >> and women led businesses, startups. >> We have a lot of women who are coming up with very very u helpful startups that can help our societal issues. >> Right? So for me when the founder of women in technology and innovation Africa miss Ununice Pullman >> called me to say I've thought about starting something I want you to join me. >> I felt compelled because my history alone I know that women shy off and I I don't want to be on top alone. >> I want other women to join me. So it's very very important that um uh I also get into the uh business of encouraging especially the young women >> to pursue the areas of STEM >> and uh also to uh get the necessary mentorship >> from women who are already ahead and have done it. >> Yeah. >> Because we already have women who have done it. So at women in technology and innovation Africa we do have our flagship program >> right >> which is called the digital library. >> So so far we have >> I think I've heard of the digital library before. >> Yes. So we have uh completed two full digital libraries >> fully equipped with internet and they are both in areas that are disadvantaged and underserved. Yes. >> So the first one is atuna primary school >> which is at Gataka slam >> just outside the leafy suburbs of Karan. >> Then the second one we just did this year which is in Boki primary school in Machakos County. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> So what do you do in terms of outreach for the digital library for young girls specifically? >> Yes. So uh when we develop the digital libraries uh what we are trying to do is encourage young girls and of course boys because if it's in a school they'll both use >> uh young girls to start uh gaining a lot of knowledge and confidence >> uh because you see in places like um Guruna they didn't have any computer. >> Yeah. Yet uh we are in >> day agent time. >> Yes. Neither did primary. >> So how do you expect this young girl? You are saying you are empowering a girl child into the STEM area >> but you haven't introduced STEM at that early age. Right. >> So we we started we start at the primary level >> uh because we want to encourage these young girls in the rural underserved under represented >> and uh areas to gain confidence to learn more about computers so that by the time they get to form four >> Yeah. or join high school they have an idea if they want >> skill actually. >> Yes. Exactly. So that they can also now um pursue technology area in various ways >> as we have mentioned technology now is affecting every area of life >> even even you as a journalist I'm sure it does >> yeah we have tools that we use in the newsroom to even for programming but let me ask you if a young girl who's watching this conversation right now and in her head thoughts that are criss-crossing intrusion thoughts or normal thoughts are >> STEM is not for M >> whose question or let me rephrase it. Who is to blame? Is it the school, the system, her background? >> Mhm. >> Or parents? >> I don't think there is one specific person you can blame for that. >> Mhm. >> Um we all come from different backgrounds. We all are nurtured differently. H some of us maybe grew up with boys and we felt that that is a boy thing because maybe we had brothers who were >> you know saying you know that kind of thing so that you are more comfortable as a woman. uh you can also now go further after from home to school and then you get the teachers are not really up to the task to have career nurturing uh kind of in in their in their day-to-day activities. >> Yes. >> So we need also to ask the teachers and the schools to be very intentional >> and encourage girls have a career week to speak about >> yes >> uh the possibilities of that girl getting into STEM. Yes. >> And then you can go further and say it could be a personality also issue. >> People have different personalities. >> We not saying all girls should join the same area. We are saying those who we need we need people to be more curious. >> Yes. >> And see that they can actually also do it >> right. >> Yeah. >> There's organiz international organizations like UNESCO. Let me let me see if I Yes. I think it is. uh UNESCO actually puts the cost of excluding women from STEM in specifically subsahara Africa at about $105 billion a year this according to this update here. >> So who is paying that bill and who is cashing in on that status quo? Does that mean uh there's some backhanded uh let's say a system of oppression that doesn't want women to thrive in STEM? You see when actually UNESCO is our strategic partner for our STEM summit for 3rd and 4th of September which is this week Thursday and Friday and the reason why STEM is our strategic partner is the objective that you have just spoken about we are fitting into their objective and their goal and the strate is a sustainable development goal SGS. >> Yeah. erh the amount of money you're quoting I won't say to that because I don't work with UNESCO but what I know is that um what the money is coming of course contributions from the people who are members of the United Nations not people but countries Kenya being one of them of course they contribute money to objectives that UNESCO has come up with so the objective that you're talking about is part of the UNESCO objective of 2022 to 2029 N to bridge the gender parity in terms of education, >> technology and uh reduce discrimination in those areas. >> Right? >> So if if the funds are there and they're not reaching out, then I don't think necessarily it would be UNESCO to blame. It's people like you and I, >> right, >> who are supposed to be coming up with uh agendas that can tap into this >> money. So uh the UNESCO cannot work on its own to achieve this. They need supporters like women in technology and innovation Africa >> who are also uh fitting into their objectives of SDGs. >> Yes. So in Africa specifically would you say and Kenya maybe from your own lenses is it about enrollment in terms of you had to picture it as a crisis or as an issue because also from your profile and what you're consistently doing. It looks like there's a big gap that needs to be filled in for the women. So is it about maybe retention after they've graduated >> or it's enrollment issue? >> How do you reconcile these two parts of the divide? um commission of university education has very real time statistics of the enrollment rates in STEM areas. I have um preview of those statistics because I sit on the council of Kenyata University. >> Yeah. >> And the and of course >> how they look like by the way are they alarming? Uh they are they are >> uh even when you hear people saying out here that oh they have forgotten the boy child they're empowering the girl child. If I just read for you some of those statistics uh you >> just point out the only one you >> Yeah I'm very comfortable to point out. Let me just get for you. I I'm sure you will also be surprised but maybe not very surprised. hoping that I can quickly get get them but just as I'm looking for them >> it will be important for you to note that >> in fact there are some places like uh computer science >> right >> and uh what do they call it uh the software part of the STEM >> software software and hardware engineering >> right >> in Jama kata yes >> it's it's the women are half of the boys >> yeah that's why it's called ja Please [laughter] >> I didn't know about that. I'm learning and you will also be s. Okay, here we go. >> So, let me just um quickly read for you. >> So, we see mathematics and statistics. >> Female 6,370. >> Male 12,000. >> Female is 6370. >> Male 12,142. >> Mhm. Okay, I'll try to go another one. Computer programming software and media applications. Female 699, male 2,272. >> Okay. >> Okay. Let's go to computer science, >> right? >> Generally, >> female 5,47 and male at 14,298. Let me look at another STEM area. >> Let me go to biological and rel related sciences. Female >> 2,94 and male 4318. >> Mhm. >> Let's go to agriculture. >> Is very very important for our country, isn't it? Female 9,169, male 14,74. Let's look at uh pharmacy. Mhm. >> Okay. >> Pharmacy enrollment. This is this is enrollment of 2025. >> Uhhuh. >> The 2026 is happening now, >> right? Yeah. >> So this is 2025. So let's look at pharmacy for example. >> Female 1,984 while male is 2,190. Architecture and build environment. >> Mhm. Female 2,160 >> and male 5,929. >> Yeah. >> Medical studies. The last one. >> Mhm. >> Medical studies. Female 7,84 and male 10,156. And they go on and on. >> Right. >> So you see there's no >> Yes. huge gender gap. Yeah. So what is the main crisis here? Is that uh are women not willing to enroll or the concept also the way they have been presented the marketing of it because you know sometimes when some something is branded to be rough and tough >> you don't want to go for it and when you look at the male gender all that as well >> you're like I'm a boy >> is it coming from how it has been marketed and presented in the STEM world also in our institutions >> or it's more of a mental >> uh filter that needs to be done away with and that's why setups like you know summits and mentorship forums are opening up you know bigger and greater possibilities of women being in such places. >> Actually if um if you are to look at it it is a there are a lot of uh contributing factors. What you have said about the mental perception of a girl is very very key. A key contributor to these statistics and girls really easily influence each other. >> Yeah. >> I don't think men influencers they have a lot of influence to each other in terms of decision making like girls. So when they change and people are telling you pharmacy you're going to spend a lot of time here why can't you just take education English and geography >> yes >> yeah so they there are there's the mental factor there is the the influence >> from external factors there is also um >> uh what we call the background ground >> somebody was not encouraged [clears throat] >> from the day go that you can do it >> so the women in technology and innovation Africa uh summit >> right >> which is happening on third and fourth >> yeah we'll delve into it deeply too as well you know >> uh is one of the ways that we can actually uh reduce this gap >> when you look at our educational systems in terms of being it included in our curriculum would you say that that there's gaps in terms of it being specifically highlighted as an area of specialization. I understand you mentioned the digital digital library initiative too because when you look at platforms like Tik Tok, I understand I don't know if you've observed Tik Tok very well. They now have a STEM icon where you can go there to just learn things in science, tech, engineering, math and so much more. Do you believe it should be as early as even from baby class and kindergarten? And also if you are to give credit to how the CBE education system what it's trying to do in terms of it giving it a facelift. Would you say we are on the right trajectory to goodness or still there's gaps? >> You know a lot is being done right now. Number one, let's talk about our government which is being very very intentional in terms of career career enhancement. >> Yeah. So we have now a new curriculum system which I applaud because a child can discover their talent. >> Yes. >> As early as PP1 or a PP2, PP3. >> Yeah. >> Uh because now what what they're doing is it is more of interactive learning. >> Yeah. >> Than lecturing, >> right? >> Like than writing notes, >> you get. So um I would say what you're alluding to on the Tik Tok. Yes, >> that is very also intentional. >> But remember, Tik Tok is not a Kenyan tool, >> right? >> It is. But >> Kenyans are massively on it. >> They are massively on it. But what has encouraged them to be massively on it? Because they have seen what has happened in China, >> right? >> As a production >> country, >> right? >> It is a production country because they have encouraged from a young age >> uh just the way we are >> doing with the CBC >> Yeah. curriculum that people should be encouraged to become creators >> Yes. >> of stuff rather than consumers of stuff. >> Yeah. >> So that Tik Tok um um link that you're talking about is basically saying you need to come out and show your creativity just the way we are telling people come and uh you know um uh for women in technology come and showcase your innovation. Innovation is creativity. >> Yeah. >> Don't sit with it. You never know because in the room there would be investors, >> right? >> In the room there's going to be the minister of the CS education, the PS high education, uh Julius Migoso Gambo, Dr. in Yangala >> who are encouraging this to happen because they are just policy makers but they need people to uh players to come on board private and NOS's and public sectors to come together right >> and encourage this. So I would applaud our new CBC curriculum >> right >> as as a as as a tool and component that is helping in the creativity >> spec uh sector. That was uh you you've mentioned as well uh partnerships and mentorship. Should they maybe include like conditions in terms of them if it was to issue like grants and collaborations should they have like gender restricted or gender steered uh partnerships and collaboration in terms of who should receive this grant if you are to you know sound off on that one. And also maybe would you say if you to look at it in a different lens would that be tokenism or favoritism? >> Um I don't think um I I I want I want to say that um when you are giving grants and you specifically want to elevate somebody who is down that is not tokenism. That is not favorism. That is thinking about somebody who needs help. So if the regulators and policy makers like the ministry of education, ministry of ICT and digital economy, they can come up with those grants and partner with international organization and NGOs's like women in technology and innovation Africa. >> Right? >> It is a good thing and it should be encouraged. The only thing is that it has to be open and transparent. Yeah. >> So that it doesn't look like you have favored one area one maybe one county >> or one region or one one tribe. So transparency is very key when you come up with this kind of stuff. >> Yeah. In December because mentorship we praise it a lot. We talk about mentorship being resilient. Uh the kind of mentorship we do in our country right here in Kenya. Is it is it steered more of like because when you look at even the speakers most of them are professionals and also maybe the people who attend are also likely to be professionals. It looks like it looks like it's a forte kind of an event invite only professionals only. >> When can we make it all inclusive too cuz in as much as you saying women are not included in this in these spaces but look at these summits. >> Yes, >> we were at the connected Africa summit. Uh it was all inclusive. I remember the theme was uh uniting Africa's digital in innovation for an inclusive market. Oh, you were there? Oh, sure. >> I was a moderator. Yeah. >> All right. We covered it for the whole entire week. When you look at such places as well, people who go there sometimes only have this information too. >> Ordinary Kenyans are likely not to be there. I'm picturing a girl in CIA in the interior. >> Okay. >> Right. How can we make it all inclusive? Yes, they are good but they're like niche centered or forte centered. what you are looking at the speakers profiles for women in technology and innovation Africa those are key keynote excuse me but we do have panel discussions >> where you will get young people from even CIA coming to speak about the innovation somebody who is studying at university uh J kenata egaton masindo and and kebab they're all coming on board to speak about the innovation >> and um not to not to say that you are wrong but how else would the young lady from CIA >> learn that it is possible other than people who have made it who are our keynote speakers >> right >> so I think uh the other thing we need to understand is that we have also membership >> for witty and most of our members are students >> right >> uh students in STEM areas So the the joinata university club for tech and engineering we have members kinata university ICT engineering we have members egaton and so on it's open >> for anybody who wishes to to gain membership once you are a member then you you have access to so many things including mentorship which is really time because like last year December we had our high tea networking membership right >> uh mentorship uh sessions >> right >> at Capital Club and we had all our members regardless of where they coming from >> right >> and we also put bring in very strategic partners like DA a which is the German scholarship international scholarship uh branch for the government of German >> uh they come to speak about how can the girl in sa access scholarship >> right >> without having us because you know sometimes people think it's impossible >> because they don't know. >> So what we are offering is a platform for sensitization and and leveraging for all the disadvantaged underserved under represented uh that we we we have in this country >> right? >> Yeah. >> And you uh serve as data privacy manager at the British Council. When you look at matters artificial intelligence, >> are women being designed into the system or they're being used as data? >> Everybody is being used as data, not only women. Everybody who is feeding the internet with anything. So where do we get the AI data? It's what you and are feeding it, isn't it? >> Right? >> We are feeding this animal to reproduce what we want. M >> um and uh I wouldn't say that women are being used. I I would say anybody who is only using AI at a very minimal level is being used. You need now to go to a a higher level. The minimal level is your phone prediction. You type it predicts for you. That's already AI. The next level is you ask a question. do for me ABCD. Yeah. Write for me this proposal. That is that is stage two. Uh which is still minimal. >> But you know they go further until up to maybe stage eight >> where you need you can ask the computer to uh create for your film or nowadays programming is not difficult. You know my days our programming language was Pascal and it was very difficult. Right now you don't need to be a programist. >> Yeah. to do to be a vibe coder. >> A vibe coder >> and do anything I want. Exactly. And you see that both men and women are coming up with very creative stuff using AI. >> Right. >> So AI it's is is supposed to simplify but most importantly it's supposed to help you multiply >> multiply your production your work that you're doing. So if you don't reach to a point where it is helping you to multiply in a marketing kind of way >> then you are actually being used >> right. >> Yeah. >> And let me ask you how can women use AI >> massively to advance their cause and inclusivity in STEM? >> You see um in very many different ways. The first one is what is your background? You're a journalist. What can I use AI for as a journalist? Ask yourself those important questions and what is my audience? So don't stick on AI alone. Also go to the psychology part. Read the room, read the economy, read the environment. There's AI. What can I use it for to help me and help others? Mhm. >> So it's very very important that women keep that in mind. I'm a nurse. What can AI help me? I am an electrician. Can I come up with an application that can help me minimize on using tokens? >> So it tells me your fridge is is using too much. You're using too much of the microwave. It's automatic. So you need to be very intentional when you're using AI for what? >> Yeah. >> And for solving what kind of problems for whom? >> Right. >> Yes. When you look at women who are abled differently, is there a way that STEM can work towards you know having them as part of because some of these technologies are on a rollout basis, others are on the initial stages of trying to like test it and prototypes. It's emerging technology. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Uh where where is the position >> in STEM? And maybe what are you doing too as well at >> aia they have a very important space I'll tell you that I I know of women who are enabled differently who have come up with in innovations of turning speech into sign language. Imagine somebody who is enabled different. It could be somebody who is um um uh deaf and d lack of a better word. they can come up with the software. I know of one who has come up with a software, >> okay, >> to do to to change speech into sign language and so on using AI >> that's an innovation >> an innovation and this is a woman >> and she's enabled differently. So she knows her need and she's caring for the the people like herself >> who need this. Uh they have plenty of space at Twitter because at Twitter we are embracing and empowering. We are not discriminating on anybody. All women from all walks of lives, >> right? >> So we are going to have a keynote speaker who is uh enabled differently at the summit as well. >> Yeah. >> Right. I want us to talk about this uh second annual summit of women in STEM Africa. >> Uh it's happening on 3rd and 4th of September at KICC. It's a convergence of actually more than 20 African countries. This is extremely massive. The theme is discovering talent, driving innovation, shaping Africa's future. You're anticipating to have scientists, uh, policy makers, innovators, tech industry players, etc. >> Uh, what should the general public anticipate from this summit? Is it targeting women only or it's only inclusive? if you are to explain it. >> The women in technology and innovation Africa STEM summit 2026 edition which we are talking about which is on 3rd and 4th of September at KCC is targeting everybody. Technology is affecting all of us. We cannot afford to leave anybody out. Uh when we are saying we are targeting everybody it it doesn't matter. It would be somebody from agricultural space, innovation space, it could be uh you know technology space, it could be engineering space and it could be somebody who is curious uh to come and see. We are selling the tickets. They are open for everybody. We cannot afford to discriminate when we are actually seeing we are empowering people who are under served and underprivileged. So all of them are welcomed. What the public needs to look forward to is to interact with industry players. Secondly, we are having a pitch prize of 500,000 to the winner. 500,000 for a winner at the pitch. This will be presented on Friday by the minister of MSN is uh this is Mr. Weekly for Par. Yes. Yes. Yes. >> He's going to present. >> Oh, he'll be present too. >> He will be present on Friday. Okay. uh because we will have a a jury who are going to you know judge which one is the best in uh pitch >> and the winner will be announced with 500,000 being presented by the CS >> yes >> MSME >> right >> and uh he's also going to speak about uh the policy and uh you know regulation side of MSME because innovation is part of it >> is part of it Yeah. >> So he's coming on board very timely to give us also the government side. >> But on Thursday we also have the education >> CS Julius Gambo and and the PS high education Dr. Bisangala >> there. There's going to be a ministerial dialogue. It's going to speak to the public about the government position in the area of STEM. I've just given you the statistics. We will also have the CEO for National Gender and Equality Commission, Dr. Puriting. >> She's going to speak about issues that women are facing in this country that actually are making us lag behind and have this kind of statistics, >> right? >> And then we are also going to have the CEO of ICT authority that is a regulator. He's going to speak about regulations in that area. So when people are innovating things, they should know that there is regulation, >> right? >> You can't just you can't just innovate things or create things or use AI in this data. >> Yes. And >> there governance for it to >> Exactly. Which is shines light on policy. Yeah. >> Exactly. >> So maybe if you were to shortly talk about the policies and what you're looking forward to achieve in terms of some of the downloads that the public the general public would learn or or or get to reap from this. What is it? What are you anticipating? We are anticipating uh conversations around uh you know MSMES MS MS MSM. Yes, that word. Yeah, that abbreviation >> micro small medium enterprises. Yes. >> What is it that the uh the ministry is looking at when they are giving out fund for examp >> at uh Ministry of High Education? What is it that they're doing for that rural girl and boy >> to encourage them to get into the area of STEM and technology specifically because of the summit? >> Yes. >> And also we are looking at uh the how can you as an an ordinary mani >> become a benefit or benefit from >> Yeah. a beneficiary from uh >> the government related programs. right >> grants >> and uh and so on. So I think for me is to anticipate a very rich dialogue >> which is going to bring people from different sectors, different spheres of lives >> and most importantly Yeah. is you network. >> You network when you you know you you know network is not just having somebody's business card. >> Yeah. >> You have to get into the conversation, >> right? So it's interactive. >> Very very interactive. We have the exhibition. There are going to be exhibitions. >> Oh, that's that's tremendous. >> Yes. So the exhibitions which are going people are now have have I think we have almost over the last time I checked which is yesterday could be over 35 >> different tech exhibition STEM exhibition. >> Yes. >> That's a lot. >> Yes, >> that's a lot. And uh that's why we we we really encouraged the CS to come in you know MSME is >> he needs to relate with the reality that people are doing something. So now you as a a policy maker and regulator what can you do to help them >> right? So you come into contact with the reality and then of course about country we have the ambassador of Benin to China >> right cuz it's 20 countries converging this is high profile for sure >> it is it is >> uh he's coming and uh the main reason he's coming as a guest is because next year the government of Benin is very keen for us >> women in technology and innovation Africa to have the STEM summit >> in Benin. So we are already in conversations with the minister for ICT >> of Benin >> I think it's ICT and youth affairs >> uh to to hold this STEM summit in Benin. >> Yeah. The next edition. >> The next edition which is 2027. >> Right. >> And also our key strategic partner which is UNESCO >> is also keen to come on board to go to us with West Africa. >> Mhm. because so Benin is the west African region so that we can exploit also that region >> right >> but we also have DA and we have plan international which are also coming on board >> to uh as as our partners >> at this summit they will also be having their own exhibitions so somebody >> it's a field day that's on Thursday to Friday >> exactly two days >> it's a field day guys >> we are going to hold it outside in a dome >> so that it's very convenient for people for the public >> to come in see the exhibition go to the uh uh where we are going to have the the conversations very interactive and uh >> we just we just want to tell anybody don't miss it right >> because you are going to miss out on a lot >> then we have Mozambi being represented Uganda Tanzania and Rwanda >> and we have a CIO you know CIO yeah >> yeah he's our strategic partner also for this and uh they have done a tremendous job. So we are looking forward >> because of the many many um the influence that they have in the region. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. As you finish up, maybe how can they get the tickets, find their way into KC on Thursday. >> On Thursday >> and Friday, please plug them in. If there's a number outside social media platform, I'll email please look at them. >> Right. Okay. >> Thank you so much. Uh so this Thursday and Friday, Women in Technology and Innovation Africa will be holding the 2026 Women in STEM summit at KICC Kenya. And you can get your tickets uh for two full days. You can get a ticket for just one day, whichever interests you. And you can you can actually get these tickets at ticketskenya.com and get your tickets to come and be part of this big conversation the exhibition. If you want to pitch something and want to win a price of 500,000 on Friday, you're most welcome to come and pitch your innovation and tell us how what it's doing. So if you would like to get in touch uh with uh somebody at the secretariat the number is 0704 61 9662. Let me repeat 070461-9662 and you will be helped. >> So what I want to welcome everybody to come on board. Right. Before I read the comments or maybe let me just read the comments and yeah, maybe you can give your parting shot. I'll read the comments later. >> Okay. >> All right. So, what do you envision for women in STEM? And I want you to maybe finish off or finish it with we will know we have arrived in STEM when women are Yes. >> Okay. >> As your parting shot. So my honest wish for women in STEM is to step up, step forward, step upward. And we as women in technology and innovation Africa, we will know that we have achieved our objectives when we have women steering and also producing a lot of innovation that can help us to create to solve our societal issues. >> Right. >> Absolutely. Clunk it. clock it clock it and on our social we are asking you before we exit we are asking you what product do you think Kenya needs right now uh before we actually begin this segment I and my Costa James you are talking about the shortage of milk in the country is alarming honestly and let me see some of your comments before we exit Franka tuned in shout out to you from Shine watching somebody minutes hey okay Alon Gloria tuned in from Yandara Maza. Somebody said here happy new month Joseph locked in watching live just only one comment which was a conversation that we extensively had with my Costa Gems. Interesting Maza Amanda on a logo but I know they sort it out but thank you so much Dr. Bella Mangu. She's a advisory member at WIT women in technology and and innovation Africa also serving as data privacy manager at British Council. Thank you so much. The second summit of the annual women in STEM Africa happening this Thursday and Friday at KICC. I'm sure that you purchase the ticket or flock in. Sometimes you never know what could happen. Miracles do happen. Exactly. >> For that summit that's highly anticipated where the speakers will be there. Thank you so much for coming through and thank you for having me but greatness. Thank you. And you're also welcome to >> I'm welcome. Yes. Nice. [laughter] So see you there. >> See you >> on Thursday and Friday. All right. Let's take a short break. When we come back an interesting conversation with my coach John James is loading up next at Y24 channel at Brian Sawan # is in the morning. See you on the other side in just a bit.