The Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN) has urged women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to harness technology to develop innovative digital solutions to climate change and other challenges in their communities and institutions.
NgREN also commended the women in the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) for their initiatives to empower women in STEM. Programme Coordinator Dr Joshua Atah made the remarks in a welcome address on Monday at the opening of the Women-in-WACREN (WiW) Climate Innovation Lab 2026, hosted in Abuja by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). It was delivered on his behalf by NgREN’s Chief ICT Officer, Mr Chinedu Otuya.
“Climate change is a global challenge that requires collaborative, innovative, and technology-driven responses. Initiatives such as this Innovation Lab provide a valuable platform for bringing together talented women, researchers, innovators, and mentors to transform ideas into practical solutions that support climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience,” Atah said.
“As a national research and education network, NgREN recognises the importance of digital infrastructure, research collaboration, and open knowledge in addressing societal challenges,” he added. “We therefore appreciate initiatives that harness the power of technology to advance sustainable development while promoting the participation and leadership of women in STEM.”
NgREN thanked NOUN for hosting the workshop and for being a steadfast partner of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Welcoming participants earlier, NOUN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Innovation and Research), Prof. Christine Ofulue, expressed delight at hosting the workshop, saying it provides a unique platform for women in STEM to offer solutions to climate change.
She said the workshop offers an opportunity to celebrate women, as well as a platform for networking and connections that will form a foundation for continued collaboration. “For us at NOUN, this gathering underscores the aspect of inclusive learning,” Prof. Ofulue said.
The international workshop, themed “Empowering Women to Build Digital Solutions for Climate Action,” forms part of a structured innovation programme that combines a virtual network of women in STEM, an intensive in-person Climate Innovation Lab, and a post-lab mentorship programme.
The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of women in STEM across West and Central Africa to collaboratively design and develop innovative digital solutions that address climate change adaptation and mitigation challenges within their communities and institutions.
The workshop, which draws women from different African countries, runs from Monday, 12 October, to Thursday, 15 October 2026.
The Project Manager, WACREN, Ms Abigail Essel, who coordinated the workshop, urged participants to work in groups as she divided them into six teams, which will make presentations on different topics.
Prof. Amos Kabo-Bah, from Ghana, made a presentation on “Introducing the climate-resilience challenges and the people/institutions affected, he spoke on how Africa’s climate risks can become Africa’s opportunity to leapfrog.
Similarly, Dr Vivian Chinwe Nnamdi of the Margaret Lawrence University, Abuja, Nigeria, in her presentation, titled From Problems to Solutions: Designing practical, user-centred digital solutions for climate resilience, said, Climate challenges become innovation opportunities when we understand people’s needs and the decisions they struggle to make.
