The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in partnership with the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC) and the Mastercard Foundation, has launched the maiden edition of FemSTEM Africa, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young women to pursue leadership roles in health innovation and entrepreneurship.

Held under the theme, “From Vision to Venture: Women Leading Health Innovation,” the two-day conference brought together more than 300 female students from STEM-focused senior high schools in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, alongside university students and emerging entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Principal Investigator of the Africa Health Collaborative at KNUST, Professor Ellis Owusu Dabo, said the initiative was designed to expose young women to entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership opportunities early in their academic and professional careers.

He noted that although women make up a significant share of the global health workforce, they remain underrepresented among founders, innovators and investors in the sector.

“Women bring unique perspectives and solutions to some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing our communities. By increasing female participation in innovation and entrepreneurship, we can unlock transformative ideas that improve lives and strengthen health systems,” he stated.

Owusu Dabo urged participants to view societal and healthcare challenges as opportunities for innovation and business creation, encouraging them to develop digital skills, seek mentorship and embrace STEM disciplines.

The Head of the Africa Health Collaborative Secretariat and Senior Director of International Relations at the University of Toronto, Dr. Penina Lam, encouraged participants to pursue entrepreneurial ideas regardless of their size.

“There is no business idea too small. Go forth, test it, refine it, and learn from the process. Even if it fails the first time, the lessons gained will prepare you for future opportunities,” she advised.

Lam said many successful innovations emerge from everyday experiences and encouraged students to identify opportunities within their communities.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Mrs. Ibok Oduro of KNUST’s Department of Food Science and Technology called for greater female participation in science and technology fields.

“Science is our observation; it is our world. We are all scientists in one way or another because we observe, question, and seek solutions,” she remarked.

She urged participants to reject stereotypes that portray STEM fields as male-dominated.

“The only limits in our lives are those we impose on ourselves. STEM is our field, not their field. It is not merely a discipline we enter; it is a world we are helping to build, and you and I are its architects,” she stated.

Oduro also stressed the importance of collaboration and multidisciplinary partnerships in addressing healthcare challenges and praised the Africa Health Collaborative’s mentorship and venture development programmes.

“The Africa Health Collaborative is creating pathways for young people to transform scientific discoveries into practical solutions. Through mentorship, networking opportunities and business support, it is helping bridge the gap between vision and venture,” she said.

The conference featured a panel discussion with women entrepreneurs and industry leaders, including Mary Asante-Asamoah of Barbex Africa Projects Limited, Joyce Owusu-Dabo of Sinapi Aba Trust and Dr. Bhavana Singh of KNUST Hospital, who shared their experiences in business and innovation.

FemSTEM was established by Health Innovation Hub (H2i) in 2017 to support women entrepreneurs in the health innovation ecosystem. The programme, supported by the Temerty Foundation, holds annual events in Canada and Africa.

Organisers said the launch of FemSTEM Africa at KNUST represents a major step toward expanding women’s participation in health innovation, entrepreneurship and STEM leadership across the continent.