ASR Africa

The Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR Africa) mentor meet up was conceived to address the stark underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. It began as a shared vision among visionary women who met in New York on the Margins of United Nations Women Convention on the Status of Women (UN CSW 67). In partnership with ASR Africa, a beacon of philanthropy, and guided by a fervent belief in the untapped potential of these young minds, the mentorship program was born in an all-female college in Gusau, Zamfara state.

The ASR Africa mentorship program in FCET, Gusau was launched on May 25th, 2023; two months after the UNCSW 67 event. Women organizations including Latiwa Development Foundation, B’Lead her Academy and CM consults laid a framework on how the program would be run. This led to a tripartite partnership between ASR Africa, the women groups, and the Federal College of Education, Technical, with clear delineation of roles.

The impact of the mentorship program was evident in the improved operations of the college, the overall improvement of the mentees and in ASR Africa’s strategic positioning as a thought leader on gender and women empowerment issues. The College changed their social culture from being an institution in a remote neighborhood to a global organization. They were constantly aware that global partners were interfacing with them, hence the need to follow standardized practices.

The mentees on the other hand, had the opportunity to network and grow above their limitations. There were drastic changes in self-awareness, public speaking, and clarity of purpose. The mentees who previously did not have access to mentors, are ready to become successful in their career paths and provide mentorship to other young women within their communities. This multiplier effect will most definitely contribute to the empowerment of young girls in the Northern part of Nigeria.