Words That Count

20/10/2025

Meet Tinotenda Bridget Njajawa, the second-place winner at Falling Walls Lab Zimbabwe 2025.

She began her journey as a pharmacist in Zimbabwe, where she witnessed firsthand the barriers women face in accessing quality . That experience planted the seed for Nyamukuta, a gamified educational app designed to train maternal health workers across Africa.

Through her work, Tino is reimagining how knowledge is shared, making it more accessible, interactive, and community-centered. Her story is a reminder that sometimes the most powerful innovations start with empathy.

Read her full story here https://wordsthatcount.org/african-women-in-healthtech-tinotenda-bridget-njajawa/

15/10/2025

How did you feel the first time you saw a female lecturer in a course?

For many of us, that moment was powerful and eye-opening. It was a spark of possibility, proof that women could lead, teach, and innovate in STEM fields, which were long dominated by men.

Across Africa, women in academia are doing exactly that: lecturing, mentoring, and conducting research that breaks and opens doors for the next generation. Every woman leading a lab or classroom is not just teaching but shaping what is possible.

Today, we celebrate African women in STEM education for showing that the future of science is inclusive, bold, and unstoppable. Ladies, your impact is immeasurable. Keep breaking barriers, lifting others, and shaping the scientific future of our continent.

13/10/2025

Meet Rudy Marjorie OSSIA-MBOULA, a Production Superintendent at the Gamba Oil and Gas Terminal under Assala Energy. With confidence and skill, Rudy navigates one of the world’s most demanding industries, where precision meets pressure. She ensures that operations run seamlessly while challenging long-held .

Her story reminds us that women are not just participants in Africa’s ; they are shaping its future.

Learn more about Rudy’s STEM journey here: https://wordsthatcount.org/women-in-oil-and-gas-rudy-marjorie-ossia-mboula/

08/10/2025

08/10/2025

Behind every confident woman in is often a mentor who believed in her before she believed in herself. Today, we highlight some of the stories that remind us why is not just guidance but also access, courage, and community.

06/10/2025

Meet Dr. Belle Fille Murorunkwere, a Senior at Cenfri Rwanda, who is helping to redefine what it means to be one of the leading voices shaping Rwanda’s digital transformation.

Her journey reflects the growing presence and influence of African women in technology, using data not just to predict the future, but to build it.

Learn more about her STEM Journey, the challenges, and what inspires her to move forward, on our website at: https://wordsthatcount.org/women-in-data-science-dr-belle-fille-murorunkwere/

29/09/2025

In the fight against malaria, drug resistance remains one of the most pressing challenges threatening global health gains. Specioza Nambooze, a researcher in mathematical modeling at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Ghana, uses advanced computational and , like simulated transmission patterns and treatment outcomes, to understand how parasites develop resistance to treatments.

Read more about her STEM journey here: https://wordsthatcount.org/modeling-malaria-drug-resistance-specioza-nambooze/

25/09/2025

Have you heard about the Existential Hope Meme Prize ($10k) launched by the Foresight Institute?

Most of the world’s storytelling about the future is fearful and full of despair. Yet, science offers us visions filled with hope. For example, clean energy that powers the world, health systems that leave no one behind, and collaborations that cross borders.

That is why the Foresight Institute is awarding a $10,000 prize to the best meme that captures a scientifically grounded, positive vision of the future.

We see this as an incredible opportunity for African creators, communicators, and innovators to bring their imagination into the global conversation. We believe in the power of telling stories that expand what is possible and show futures worth working toward.

Submit your meme here: https://www.existentialhope.com/existential-hope-meme-prize
Deadline: November 23, 2025

22/09/2025

🌸 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Motherhood shows up in many of the stories we share: sometimes as a challenge, sometimes as a source of , and often as both.

Our guests remind us that being a , wife, student, professional, and scientist can coexist, with support, mentorship, and love, making the journey possible.

These are some of the stories of the women redefining what it means to thrive in while nurturing the next generation.

Swipe through to read their words.

22/08/2025

The AIMS Research and Innovation Centre (AIMS RIC) is inviting applications for the Junior Research Chair in .
The successful candidate will:
🔹 Guide and mentor brilliant researchers, postdocs, PhDs, and Master’s students
🔹 Build an ambitious, high-quality research program
🔹 Contribute to teaching across AIMS Centres
🔹 Host international scientific events

This is also a space for growth with mentorship, collaboration through the Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen’s Cluster of Excellence in Machine Learning, and the possibility of promotion to (Senior) Research Chair.

We know how important it is for women to see themselves in these spaces. If this is you, click here to apply today: https://applications.aimsric.org/application/c2eff05e-f561-46e7-b672-5a9e66925a75

The deadline is 31st August 2025

18/08/2025

As we continue to celebrate whose journeys inspire change and redefine what’s possible in STEM, we introduce Dr. Foutse Yuehgoh, a Cameroonian researcher whose work in AI and big data is breaking new ground.

As an alumna of AIMS Senegal, Foutse’s impact goes beyond research! She founded Kmer AI to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing in AI in Cameroon. Through IndabaX-Cameroon and Wimlds - Yaoundé, she mentors women and girls to pursue careers in technology. Her story is proof that with vision, leadership, and representation, we can shape Africa’s data science future.

Discover her full journey here: https://wordsthatcount.org/african-women-in-data-science-foutse-yuehgoh/

11/08/2025

When asked what her favourite quote was, Dr Zanele Dinika responded: “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live” by Mae Jemison. That was back in 2021, during her Words That Count interview session.

Today, Zanele has channeled her , curiosity, and passion into building her own empire, called Glow Dental Studio Zimbabwe. What began as a vision has now become a reality, reflecting her dedication to excellence and her commitment to serving her with skill and heart.

We are proud to have shared her story then, and even prouder to celebrate her now. Congratulations, Dr. Dinika, on this wonderful milestone. May Glow Dental Studio continue to shine brightly, inspiring others to dream boldly and work tirelessly to bring those dreams to life.

Find more about her STEM journey here: https://wordsthatcount.org/dentistry-chose-me-dr-zanele-f-y-dinika/