Professional teacher education is essential to breaking persistent gender barriers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), according to Professor Chibuogwu Virginia Nnaka of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Delivering the university’s 34th Inaugural Lecture titled “Professional Teacher Education: A Catalyst for Widening the Gateway to Gender Equity in STEM Education and Careers”, Nnaka argued that teachers are central to transforming classrooms into inclusive spaces that challenge stereotypes and promote gender balance in STEM.
Held on July 24, 2025, at the NOUN headquarters in Abuja, the lecture highlighted the systemic gender disparities in STEM that remain a significant developmental gap for Nigeria. Nnaka said, “Teachers can either be gatekeepers of inequality or champions of inclusion. The difference lies in how they are trained.” Drawing on over four decades of academic research and field interventions, she highlighted that globally, fewer than 30% of researchers are women, while in Nigeria, only 17% of tertiary STEM students are female. She linked this shortfall to cultural norms, male-biased curricula, and inadequate mentorship structures.
Nnaka presented empirical evidence showing how gender-sensitive curricula, mentorship by trained female educators, and Open and Distance Learning (ODL) models can bridge access gaps and improve female representation in STEM.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Olufemi Peters, represented by his deputy, Professor Godwin Akper, described the lecture as a call to action. “It reflects where we are as a society and where we must go to break inequality and drive national progress,” he said. Professor Chiedu Mafiana, in his vote of thanks, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to equity-driven reforms.
