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International Women’s Day Celebrates African Women Turning Ideas Into Impact
International Women’s Day Celebrates African Women Turning Ideas Into Impact
Sputnik Africa
International Women’s Day offers a moment to reflect on courage, imagination, and resilience shaping societies across generations. Across Africa, women are... 08.03.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-03-08T09:00+0100
2026-03-08T09:00+0100
2026-03-08T09:00+0100
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International Women’s Day Celebrates African Women Turning Ideas Into Impact
Sputnik Africa
International Women’s Day offers a moment to reflect on courage, imagination, and resilience shaping societies across generations. Across Africa, women are designing technologies, advancing science, and preserving cultural heritage.
In 2026, International Women’s Day carries the theme “Give to Gain,” a reminder that progress grows when knowledge, opportunity, and innovation are shared across communities. Across Africa, women are building technologies, advancing research, and transforming artistic traditions into global cultural statements, demonstrating how creativity and leadership continue to expand possibilities.
African history carries powerful examples of women whose leadership reshaped societies and institutions. From Queen Amina of Zaria, whose strategic leadership expanded trade and influence across the Sahel region of West Africa, to Nigerian activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who mobilized women’s civic participation during colonial rule. In Kenya, environmentalist Wangari Maathai linked ecological protection with community empowerment through the Green Belt Movement, becoming the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In modern governance, figures like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former chair of African Union Commission, represent generations of women shaping political and institutional life.Today that legacy continues in laboratories, universities, engineering workshops, and creative studios across the continent. In 2026, International Women’s Day carries the theme “Give to Gain,” a reminder that progress grows when knowledge, opportunity, and innovation are shared across communities. Across Africa, women are building technologies, advancing research, and transforming artistic traditions into global cultural statements, demonstrating how creativity and leadership continue to expand possibilities.Marking International Women’s Day, Global South Pole spoke with three women whose work illustrates this spirit of creativity and invention.Engineering Innovation for African AgricultureUgandan researcher Stella Nakirijja, affiliated with Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Makerere University, is applying technology to one of agriculture’s persistent challenges. Her solar-powered tick detection system uses artificial intelligence and thermal imaging to help farmers identify infestations early and improve livestock health.Nakirijja believes modern tools such as artificial intelligence can unlock new possibilities in agriculture by channeling creativity and energy of young innovators toward solving practical farming problems.Science and Robotics Advancing Industrial SafetyNigerian scientist Dr. Maimuna Umar Zarewa, developed a smart robotic corrosion-detection system during her research at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Combining chemistry, robotics, and artificial intelligence, system is designed to monitor industrial infrastructure and detect corrosion risks before they escalate into larger failures.Zarewa says innovation grows from persistence and willingness to explore ideas capable of addressing complex challenges in science and industry.Cultural Creativity Reaching Global StageGhanaian creative entrepreneur Juliana Gharbin, has transformed traditional bead artistry into a platform for cultural storytelling. In 2025, she led a team of professional beaders that achieved a Guinness World Record for largest bead sculpture, drawing global attention to craftsmanship deeply rooted in Ghanaian heritage.For Gharbin, innovation also lives in cultural expression, where creativity can celebrate identity while sharing African stories with audiences around world.Though their paths span agriculture, science, and art, Nakirijja, Zarewa, and Gharbin reflect a shared vision of possibility. Their work shows how African women continue to transform ideas into practical solutions, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural achievements. On International Women’s Day, their voices echo a wider story unfolding across continent: ingenuity driven by women whose creativity and determination continue to shape Africa’s future.To listen to the whole conversation, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole.
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podcasts, nigeria, west africa, africa, women, women's empowerment, international women's day, uganda, research, artificial intelligence (ai), innovation, guinness world record, ghana, insects, farmers, livestock, аудио
International Women’s Day Celebrates African Women Turning Ideas Into Impact
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
International Women’s Day offers a moment to reflect on courage, imagination, and resilience shaping societies across generations. Across Africa, women are designing technologies, advancing science, and preserving cultural heritage.
African history carries powerful examples of women whose leadership reshaped societies and institutions. From Queen Amina of Zaria, whose strategic leadership expanded trade and influence across the Sahel region of West Africa, to Nigerian activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who mobilized women’s civic participation during colonial rule. In Kenya, environmentalist Wangari Maathai linked ecological protection with community empowerment through the Green Belt Movement, becoming the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In modern governance, figures like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former chair of African Union Commission, represent generations of women shaping political and institutional life.
Today that legacy continues in laboratories, universities, engineering workshops, and creative studios across the continent. In 2026, International Women’s Day carries the theme “Give to Gain,” a reminder that progress grows when knowledge, opportunity, and innovation are shared across communities. Across Africa, women are building technologies, advancing research, and transforming artistic traditions into global cultural statements, demonstrating how creativity and leadership continue to expand possibilities.
Marking International Women’s Day, Global South Pole spoke with three women whose work illustrates this spirit of creativity and invention.
Engineering Innovation for African Agriculture
Ugandan researcher Stella Nakirijja, affiliated with Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Makerere University, is applying technology to one of agriculture’s persistent challenges. Her solar-powered tick detection system uses artificial intelligence and thermal imaging to help farmers identify infestations early and improve livestock health.
Nakirijja believes modern tools such as artificial intelligence can unlock new possibilities in agriculture by channeling creativity and energy of young innovators toward solving practical farming problems.
"Technology is here to help us, technology is here to improve how we handle problems. And specifically artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is something that is modeled to that desire or to the particular issue that you want. In this case, we train our models to detect ticks of any level of any color of any species. So, technology is very key in integration of pest management. Even on the normal agricultural farms that we do crop farming, technology like using AI to detect some of these pests is something that can be reliable if it's really given time and focused on economic wise. It is something that can really help our farming improve," Nakirijja explained.
Science and Robotics Advancing Industrial Safety
Nigerian scientist Dr. Maimuna Umar Zarewa, developed a smart robotic corrosion-detection system during her research at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. Combining chemistry, robotics, and artificial intelligence, system is designed to monitor industrial infrastructure and detect corrosion risks before they escalate into larger failures.
Zarewa says innovation grows from persistence and willingness to explore ideas capable of addressing complex challenges in science and industry.
"I think Africa has immense opportunity in climate technology, industrial AI, sustainable material and infrastructure innovation. You see, because many systems are developing, so we have the advantage of leap-frogging outdated technology and adopting [artificial] intelligence on autonomous system from the start," Dr. Zarewa said.
Cultural Creativity Reaching Global Stage
Ghanaian creative entrepreneur Juliana Gharbin, has transformed traditional bead artistry into a platform for cultural storytelling. In 2025, she led a team of professional beaders that achieved a Guinness World Record for largest bead sculpture, drawing global attention to craftsmanship deeply rooted in Ghanaian heritage.
For Gharbin, innovation also lives in cultural expression, where creativity can celebrate identity while sharing African stories with audiences around world.
"Ghana is part of Africa. With our bag, it's our identity. That's how I see it, because the bag has our national colors. In fact, African colors [...] so that is to tell you that this is truly African or proudly African. Now, to make it more Ghanaian, we incorporated two Adinkra symbols. So, the Adinkra symbols, one signifies loyalty and one priestly office. So, as soon as you actually see the bag, you will know that this is African made and it's a way of telling our story, telling how artistic Ghanaian artists are," Gharbin added.
Though their paths span agriculture, science, and art, Nakirijja, Zarewa, and Gharbin reflect a shared vision of possibility. Their work shows how African women continue to transform ideas into practical solutions, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural achievements. On International Women’s Day, their voices echo a wider story unfolding across continent: ingenuity driven by women whose creativity and determination continue to shape Africa’s future.
To listen to the whole conversation, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole. 
