Scientific and technological
innovations are essential to stimulating faster economic growth, food security,
environmental sustainability and effective medical research across the globe.
However, with only 30 per cent of women and girls currently taking up roles in
the field of science, there is a need for concerted efforts at socio-cultural
and academic levels, geared towards increasing this number by encouraging more
girls to take up science and ultimately close the gender gap and enrich the
all-important field with the necessary diversity of thought patterns. Today, February
11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science; a day set aside to
celebrate the very few and distinguished women in this sphere of endeavour.
While the United Nations
Population Division estimates that there are 3.82 billion females compared to a
global male population of 3.89 billion, only 30 per cent of the female
population are participating in the most critical fields. This amounts to a
stark underutilization of human resources.
Going by a 2017 research
published by scientists at Amen Clinics, California, the female brain is more
active in vital areas such as intuition and collaboration, which are useful in
raising the standards of scientific and technological research, to expand the
knowledge bank available to offset emerging global threats.
This explains the notable
achievements of a fine generation of women who continue to make their marks in
various scientific fields. From Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry in 1911 for her discovery of polonium and radium, to present day
multiple award-winning Carolyn Bertozzi, a Massachusetts-based biochemist, who
has provided powerful research tools for understanding the development of, and
arresting, deadly diseases such as cancer and arthritis, the female gender
group is spearheading remarkable developments that are transforming the
world.
Removing the socio-cultural
beliefs that tie the female gender perpetually to the home-front especially in
many of the developing nations including Nigeria, would ensure more girls take
up STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and
Mathematics) subjects during their formative academic years. As more girls
explore the science fields, the workforce supply pipelines would be broadened
to provide science-tech related agency chains with an abundant supply of brains
that would serve as levers to collaboratively deepen the level of innovative solutions
to many of the challenges confronting the nation in urban and rural
settlements, be it in the areas of medical services delivery, agriculture,
infrastructure development, power, housing, etc.
Incentivizing this overt
female participation in the science field, asides removing the socio-cultural
hurdles through continuous corporate uptake or employment and implementation of
fair pay policies, will encourage more girls to take up STEM subjects. It would
as well inspire the female scientists to continue to break new grounds, just
like Bertozzi.
One firm that is driving the
inclusion of more female scientists in its impressive workforce is Crown Flour
Mill Limited, makers of Crown Premium Pasta, Mama Gold Flour and a strong line
of semolina and Spaghetti brands. The consumer food manufacturer continuously
demonstrates its support for gender equality in every aspect. This is in line
with the diversity focus of its parent company, the Olam Group, which
consistently strives to foster creativity, innovation and resilient supply
chains by maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. You will recall that
Olam Nigeria was recently named an employer of choice in the African region,
for 2021.
Ashish Pande, the Managing
Director of Crown Flour Mill Nigeria, reiterated the business’ diversity focus
when he said, “Crown Flour Mill Nigeria Limited is an equal opportunity
employer. We strive to promote diversity and inclusiveness at all levels in our
organization. This is because we strongly believe that a diversity of
experience, culture and perspective is required to help our business excel.”
According to Pande, the
women scientists who are part of Crown Flour Mill Limited’s value chain are
quite remarkable and their combined wealth of experience and expertise is so
invaluable to the organisation. They have worked their ways to the top in their
chosen scientific fields through constant improvement and consistent delivery
of quality services. One of such would be, Ms Unyime Usen, an engineer by
training, a mid-level manager and one of CFM’s leading ladies in the science
field. She is a British International Safety Organisation certified Electrical
Engineer who is highly-experienced in Process & Instrumentation
Maintenance. Her roles include planning and supervision of electrical
maintenance activities at the operational levels of the business value chain.
By consistently delivering
stellar performances in her roles, Ms Unyime ensures overall equipment
efficiency along the production line. Her work further helps CFM to maximize
overall output and reduce costly equipment maintenance.
As CFM is masterminding a
major drive for gender inclusion along corporate value chains, Ms Unyime Usen
who says her superpower is science, is undoubtedly a role model for many young
girls who are currently taking STEM classes or studying for a degree in any of
the science fields. Hence her contribution at CFM is driving change across the
board. It also serves as a reminder to young ladies in the science fields –
that if they are willing to work hard, they should be able to access the doors
of opportunities and ultimately climb up top corporate ladders in top private
and public world-class organisations such as CFM which prides in its people,
processes and products.
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