Praia, 29 May 2026 – Within the framework of the project – Women and Clean Energy in West Africa (WOCEWA) project, ECREEE successfully organized a STEM awareness and networking event on 29 May 2026 at the University of Cabo Verde (Uni-CV) in Praia.
Held under the theme “Regional innovation will come through your talent: Dare to do STEM”, the event brought together secondary and university students, energy professionals, institutional representatives, and women leaders in STEM. The initiative aimed to challenge gender stereotypes in STEM fields and promote careers in the clean energy sector among young women and girls, thereby fostering greater participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In attendance were the acting executive director of ECREEE, Mr. Gibson Okezie Obasi, the acting ECOWAS resident representative in Cabo Verde, Mrs. Kelly Lopes, and the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Cabo Verde, Dr. Carina Fernandes. In his remarks, the acting executive director reaffirmed ECREEE’s commitment to supporting such initiatives to strengthen skills development, foster innovation, and expand access to science and technology across communities in the region.
The program featured panel discussions, career guidance sessions, and networking activities on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and gender equality, providing an interactive platform for students to engage with professionals and explore career opportunities in the sustainable energy sector. The event further reinforced ECREEE’s commitment to promoting an inclusive energy transition and inspiring the next generation of women leaders and innovators in the ECOWAS region.
As part of its ongoing commitment to women’s empowerment, ECREEE, through the WOCEWA project, provides scholarships for female students pursuing energy-related STEM fields across the ECOWAS region. In addition, the Centre will host six master’s students from six ECOWAS Member States for internship placements this year.