In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) is playing a growing role in continent-wide efforts to strengthen advanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, while carving out new paths for women to lead in scientific fields that have historically been dominated by men.
Supported by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), AUST is part of a regional network of postgraduate research centers of excellence designed to develop Africa’s next generation of researchers and innovators.
Building world-class research capacity across Africa
Through the Nelson Mandela Institute-African Institute for Science and Technology (NMI-AIST) project, which was implemented in two phases from 2010 to end in 2022, AfDB supported three lead institutions:
International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, Nigeria
Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Arusha, Tanzania
Together, these centers form a pan-African network that provides world-class graduate education, strengthens the research ecosystem, and anchors scientific solutions to development challenges across the continent.
Within this network, AUST has emerged as a key hub for representing Nigeria’s participation and promoting women’s participation in science.
Women in Science and Engineering Initiative Drives Change
A key force behind this progress is AfDB’s Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) initiative, which promotes access, leadership and visibility for women in high-impact STEM fields.
Through scholarships, mentorship, and research support, WiSE has enabled women academics to:
earn an advanced degree
Access equipment and a global research network
Contributing to scientific innovation
Hold a leadership role in academia, industry, or national research institutes
Spotlighting emerging women science leaders
Among the beneficiaries of the program is Dr. Aisha Aminu, a mathematician specializing in nonlinear operator theory. Her doctoral research was funded through the NMI-AIST project and helped establish her as an emerging leader in advanced mathematics research.
In 2025, she was selected as a member of the prestigious Heidelberg Prize Laureates Forum, joining the ranks of the world’s most promising young researchers.
“Receiving an African Development Bank Group loan to study at AUST provided me with connections to mentors, facilities, and a research community that I would not have had access to otherwise,” she said. “That support has helped me stay the course and aim even higher.”
Another AfDB-supported graduate, Dr. Stella Nwachukwu Dozie, is conducting pioneering research on biosynthetic gold nanoparticles for targeted breast cancer treatment.
She is currently the Chief Scientist at the National Advanced Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering of Nigeria (SHESTCO), demonstrating how bank-funded training is translated into nationally relevant scientific expertise.
STEM support starts before entering university
AfDB’s commitment to women scientists begins well before their graduate studies.
In Nigeria, project-supported activities include STEM support in secondary schools, including:
2021 campaign reaching 310 students, including 279 girls
Coding camp designed to spark early interest in tech-related careers in teenage girls
These initiatives aim to strengthen the pipeline of young women into science and engineering careers.
Good result at AUST Abuja
The project’s impact is reflected in measurable outcomes at AUST.
There are 398 master’s and doctoral degree holders, approximately 35% of whom are women.
149 Visiting Faculty Missions to Improve Educational Quality and Supervision
Upgrading laboratories, ICT infrastructure and expanding access to scientific journals
Significant increase in peer-reviewed scientific output
Scholarships are central to expanding access to:
Awarded 115 Master’s Degrees
Awarded 90 Ph.D.
We support students from all over Africa.
The university’s AUSTInspire hub has also helped incubate around 15 student- and faculty-led start-up companies, strengthening the link between research and entrepreneurship.
Research addressing development issues in Africa
Ongoing research at AUST focuses on high-impact areas such as:
Cancer treatment in partnership with Abuja National Hospital
Nanoparticle-based remediation of oil spill zones in the Niger Delta
Sustainable building materials and energy systems
These projects highlight how advanced STEM training is being applied to urgent national and regional priorities.
A model for inclusive growth and long-term resilience
This spotlight on Nigeria reflects the broader achievements of NMI-AIST projects across Africa, particularly in advancing women in STEM fields, and shows how AfDB investments are helping to build the scientific leadership needed for inclusive growth and long-term resilience.
By strengthening institutions like AUST, supporting women researchers, and connecting science to real-world development challenges, the African Development Bank Group is helping Africa shape a future driven by innovation, equity, and homegrown expertise.
