Book IWD Speaker: Dr. Amanda Obidike

Dr. Amanda Obidike is an accomplished data scientist, senior policy advisor and Executive Director of STEMi Makers of Africa where she has led the design and delivery of teacher-centred Project-Based Learning programmes that have enabled over 50,000+ educators to run virtual labs and assign hands-on projects even in low-internet environments.

In 2025, she presented recommendations at the United Nations CSW67 calling for stronger North-South cooperation in STEM education and improved retention of adolescent girls. Her work has been recognised by MIPAD as one of the 50 Most Influential Persons of African Descent in Philanthropy and Social Impact, the “Women Who Change the World” list, Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Tech, and Forbes Science for changing the cultural fabric of STEM opportunities for young Africans.

She holds a Ph.D in Artificial Intelligence, a Masters degree from the International Business Institute, Germany, a Global Certification from Santa Clara University, USA. She was a Top 10 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholar and a Techwomen Awardee, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

Amanda Obidike stands out for International Women’s Day speaking engagements because she turns personal transformation into scalable, practical impact for women and girls in STEM across Africa.

As founder and Executive Director of STEMi Makers Africa, she has built programs that equip educators with project-based STEM teaching methods (including solutions for low-internet environments), mentor girls and young women, and prepare the next generation of African problem-solvers. Her work has reached tens of thousands to over 100,000 young people across 19–22 countries, trained thousands of educators, and supported STEM entrepreneurs—while driving policy conversations through roles such as African Union CESA STEM Cluster lead.

What makes her distinctive is the authenticity of her path. She did not enter STEM through a traditional engineering or computer-science route. A business background, underemployment, and hands-on data-science training (including IBM) revealed both the power of technical skills and the systemic gaps keeping many young Africans, especially girls, out of opportunity. Instead of waiting for a seat at the table, she built one and invited a generation of young minds, particularly girls, to create and lead. This lived experience lets her speak with credibility on barriers, practical solutions, and the mindset shift from “STEM is not for me” to “I belong here and can lead here.”

She brings a rare combination of:
- Deep, on-the-ground results focused on girls and women in tech, educator capacity, and future-ready skills.
- Policy and systems insight (AU-level work, education reform, AI for sustainable education).
- Global recognition that validates local impact: TechWomen (U.S. State Department), Goldman Sachs Global 20 Fellowship, FDM EveryWoman in Technology (Tech for Good), Forbes Science recognition, “Women Who Change the World,” Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Tech, MIPAD (Most Influential Persons of African Descent), and multiple other honors.
- Mentorship credibility through the New York Academy of Sciences, Cherie Blair Foundation, and similar platforms.
- Clear, action-oriented voice that moves beyond inspiration to concrete strategies organizers and audiences can apply.

She connects the global conversation on gender equality, digital inclusion, and innovation to real world contexts and proven approaches. Audiences leave with both inspiration and practical ideas—whether the focus is closing STEM gender gaps, building inclusive education systems, developing women leaders in tech and AI, or creating pathways that turn potential into economic opportunities

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