Inspire 2026, a mentorship platform aimed at training young and talented women in the STEM field to achieve excellence in their careers, has held a mentorship workshop at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana (UG).
The event was organised under the patronage of UNESCO and L’Oréal and aimed at recognising and mentoring young African women pursuing careers in science across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking in an interview with Univers News, the founder and curator of the event, who is also a PhD candidate at WACCBIP, Maame Ekua Acquah, stated that her motivation is to leverage the opportunities she has gained in the STEM field, both locally and internationally, to provide tailored mentorship for undergraduate students and recent graduates.
According to her, the initiative seeks to equip participants with practical knowledge and guidance to support their academic and professional journeys.
“I was privileged to win the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Young Women in Science for Sub-Saharan Africa, and as such, I decided to leverage this distinguished platform to create a mentorship session for dedicated young women studying science-related courses between the ages of 19 and 25. The aim is to expose them to real-life advice and expert guidance from seasoned female scientists to motivate them and help shape their future career prospects,” she said.
The keynote speaker at the event and Associate Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Ghana, Lydia Mosi, described the initiative as an important opportunity to mentor and inspire the next generation of female scientists.
“The motivation behind this brilliant initiative strongly resonates with me as a seasoned academic in the sciences at the University of Ghana. Having worked with Miss Acquah during her postgraduate studies, I am delighted to share my experiences with these brilliant young women to encourage them to push their limits and achieve the utmost best in their chosen fields,” she stated.
The event brought together selected young female scientists from diverse disciplines, experienced academic and professional mentors from industry and academia, as well as commercial partners, for a comprehensive mentorship and networking experience.
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Story by Sika Togoh | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
