Dr. Jennifer Riria Champions STEM for Girls at National Education Summit
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By John Kariuki
Renowned educationist and CEO of Echo Network Africa, Dr. Jennifer Riria, delivered a powerful keynote at the First National Conference on Intergenerational Approaches to School Community Engagement and Whole Child Development, calling for urgent reforms to elevate girls’ participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
With passion and purpose, Dr. Riria challenged stakeholders to dismantle systemic barriers that limit girls’ access to science education. “STEM is not a male domain. It is a universal platform, and our girls are ready to lead, innovate, and disrupt,” she declared, earning a standing ovation.
She highlighted her recent mission to Canada, where she led a high-level resource mobilization drive to equip Kenyan schools with modern science laboratories. This, she said, is essential to nurturing future female scientists, engineers, and tech leaders.
Dr. Riria, founder of the Girl Excel Program launched in 2018, has already impacted thousands of girls through mentorship, leadership development, and academic empowerment. Her trailblazing efforts continue to redefine the landscape of girl child education in Kenya.
“I am not merely advocating from the sidelines. I am in the trenches, mobilizing resources, influencing policy, and igniting minds,” she affirmed.
As the summit focused on holistic child development and community-school collaboration, Dr. Riria’s address emerged as a rallying cry for inclusive, gender-responsive reforms. Her message was clear: the future of STEM belongs to all, and Kenyan girls must not be left behind.
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