Amanda Obidike is the executive director of STEMi Makers Africa. The organization equips young people with skills in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and integrated innovation (STEMi).

Since 2018, STEMi has implemented training across underserved communities in several African countries.

Some of Amanda's accomplishments at STEMi include cultivating the STEM workforce in partnership with the U.S Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria. Amanda helped by improving the competence of 100 educators, increasing practical learning by 80%, teaching challenging content, and providing resources relevant to the modern teacher in understanding STEM pathways and courses.

Amanda's efforts have provided an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs with access to Cloud, Data Analytics, Cognitive computing, Mobile, Security, and IBM Watson to commercialize healthcare, finance, technology, and manufacturing ideas.

She has developed an e-learning community for educators and students to access online courses, opportunities, and mentoring for females.

She has also provided technology, business tools, investors, and additive manufacturing training to young people in Cameroon, Ghana, and Liberia. In Nigeria, she helped set up Innovation Clubs in underserved communities, assisting students in collaborating, design, and visualize solutions.

Amanda is credited with bringing the World Economic Forum Global Shaper hub to southeast Nigeria. As curator of the Ozubulu hub, she mobilized young people to participate in the development and local government. She also addressed gaps in clean energy, data science, and reform in the education curriculum.

Amanda also serves as a mentor in the Cherie Blair Foundation, which has supported over 175,000 women in more than 100 countries.

In addition, she lends her voice to the 1 Million Women to Tech community, an organization in Silicon Valley dedicated to fueling the rise of the digital economy by providing technical education to women.

Amanda also works with Global Thinkers Forum, a U.K.-based organization created to help societies and leaders navigate a complex world.

Recently, she has been recognized for championing diversity and advocating for the girl child. Other awards include the Positive Impact Award of Athena40.

She was named to the World Most Innovative Women 2020 list. Amanda was also a USA Consulate General award winner in the public affairs category for STEM integration and development training for educators in marginalized communities.

Amanda was recognized for equipping educators with tools to integrate learning, content, and resources relevant to STEM pathways and courses. Today, the teachers serve as STEM Ambassadors and have trained other educators, expanded their learning communities, and integrated innovation in classrooms.

Amanda is also a finalist in the Booking.com Technology Playmakers Awards. Forbes Science marked her as the Nigerian changing the culture fabric for young Africans especially girls to embrace STEM.

According to STEMi Makers of Africa, their aim is to boost employment, innovation, inclusion and empower a talent base of over two million young Africans with the tools and problem-solving skills they need to excel and become more experienced for Africa's workforce by 2030.

Click here to nominate an outstanding innovator in STEM for the 2021 Women of Color STEM Awards.