Every year, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11.
The day promotes full and equal access to and participation in STEM fields for women. Science is better when women are involved.
Established by the United Nations in 2015, the day highlights that, despite progress, women still constitute less than one-third of global researchers and face significant barriers in technology, artificial intelligence, and engineering.
The United Nations’ message is clear: gender equality drives innovation.
Beyond a calendar date, the day is about saving lives, helping communities, and building a better future through leadership and evidence-based action.
In Nigeria, this is not just theory—it is happening now.
In clinics and villages across the country, women scientists and health workers are turning research into real-world results.
They are not just reading books; they are taking action.
A powerful example is the Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin (SARMAAN) in children project—a science-driven child survival initiative rooted in evidence and delivered through people, many of them women.
At its core, SARMAAN is driven by hard science. Designed to help children survive and thrive, it uses evidence to fight disease, but science needs people to make it work—and in Nigeria, those people are often women.
Women are the heartbeat of the SARMAAN project. They serve as researchers, doctors, and community volunteers.
They analyze data to keep children safe, travel to remote areas to deliver medicine, and talk to mothers and families to build trust.
According to Dr John Ovuoraye, Director of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, years of global research—including WHO guidance—recommends that Azithromycin mass drug administration be embedded within broader child survival strategies.
This global evidence was localized through Nigerian-led research in 2022, coordinated by the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health.
The study generated critical local data, ensuring implementation would be safe, effective, and responsive to Nigeria’s unique health context.
Ovuoraye reiterated that women scientists and public health professionals are central to designing studies, analyzing data, and shaping evidence-based decisions.
In 2023, SARMAAN expanded from pilot states to several northern states with some of the country’s highest child mortality rates.
This became one of the largest evidence-driven public health interventions in recent years.
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Monitoring data from SARMAAN II shows more than 10 million children aged one month to 59 months have received Azithromycin, achieving coverage above 88 per cent, with no serious adverse events reported.
“Behind these numbers are women on the frontlines—female health workers screening children, administering medicines, educating caregivers, and following up in homes.
“Their work ensures that innovative, science-driven medicines reach hard-to-reach areas and the children who need them most,” Ovuoraye said.
He noted that in many communities, trust determines whether science is accepted or rejected.
“Here again, women play a decisive role.
“Female community leaders and volunteers help address concerns, counter misinformation, and build confidence in the programme.
“Their cultural understanding and accountability make science approachable and human.
“This reality was reinforced by formative research in 2025 by a team of communications experts across 11 northern states,” he said.
Through interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys, the study found that trusted female health workers are among the most effective voices in correcting myths and improving acceptance of SARMAAN.
These findings now inform communication strategies that strengthen community ownership of the programme.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science also highlights scientific integrity and accountability—values that guide SARMAAN’s approach to safety.
“All medicines used are clinically certified and administered by trained medical personnel.
“Adverse events are reported and reviewed through national pharmacovigilance systems,” Ovuoraye said.
Antimicrobial resistance is monitored at baseline and regular intervals using laboratory data coordinated by NIMR.
These safeguards reflect global standards recommended by the WHO and are upheld by national experts, including many women scientists and public health professionals who ensure innovation never compromises safety.
Beyond today’s impact, the role of women and girls in science shapes the future.
SARMAAN stands as a real-world lesson for young girls: science can be a pathway to saving lives, strengthening communities, and leading change.
As the world commemorates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the SARMAAN Project offers proof.
Proof that when science is inclusive, it works. Proof that when women lead, evidence becomes impact. And proof that Nigeria’s child survival goals are best served when women and girls are not just participants in science, but co-drivers of it.
When we include women in science, the science gets stronger—especially as women bring new ideas and better ways to connect with people.
By supporting girls who want to study science today, we ensure Nigeria has the leaders it needs for tomorrow.
Science belongs to everyone. And when women lead, everyone wins.
