The Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited (BIHL) Trust and the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) recently celebrated the culmination of their flagship Girls Excelling in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme, a three-year journey that has ignited aspirations, inspired innovation, and invested over P500,000 into Botswana’s future STEM leaders.
The GEMS Prizegiving Ceremony, held on 24 July 2025, was both a celebration and a milestone. The engagement honoured the brilliance of this year’s cohort while closing the chapter on a transformative mentorship initiative that has left an indelible mark on Botswana’s education landscape.
This year, Ghanzi Senior Secondary School successfully defended their title, once again emerging as the overall winner of the STEM Project Competition. Having previously claimed victory in 2023, Ghanzi now joins Shakawe (2022) in the programme’s growing legacy of excellence and inspiration.
Yet, beyond the trophies and accolades, the true triumph lies in the lives transformed in the minds empowered, the dreams ignited, and the opportunities unlocked for girls across Botswana, from Shakawe to Tsabong.
Reflecting on the programme’s journey, BIHL Trust Trustee, Professor Rosaleen Nhlekisana, said, “As we bring this transformative programme to a close, we celebrate the sparks we’ve helped ignite. Watching these girls evolve into confident young women who are unafraid to question the world around them has been both humbling and inspiring. The goal has always been to create a space where girls see themselves in science careers, not as outliers, but as leaders and innovators.”
Each year, the BIHL Trust invested P167,000 into GEMS, bringing its total commitment to over P500,000. This funding provided mentorship, hands-on STEM experiences, and student-led innovation showcases; giving girls the tools and confidence to see themselves as rightful contributors to Botswana’s growth.
Speaking on behalf of Professor Abraham A. Ogwu, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Development & Innovation at BIUST, Professor Ochieng Aoyi highlighted the transformative impact of the STEM programme during his keynote address.
“We are not just celebrating science, we are celebrating the critical role that grassroots education plays in shaping a knowledge-driven society,” he said. Professor Aoyi emphasised that young female scientists are already active contributors to national development, not just the future. He underscored that science is a powerful tool for addressing real-world challenges from clean water to sustainable agriculture and is a key driver of economic diversification in Botswana.
“When girls see women leading in science, they gain more than knowledge, they gain permission: permission to dream, to lead, and to transform the world,” he added, reaffirming BIUST’s commitment to inclusive mentorship and empowering the next generation of innovators.
Launched at a pivotal time in Botswana’s transition from a resource-driven to a knowledge-based economy, the GEMS programme was designed to ensure that women and girls were not left behind in the national innovation agenda. Since its inception, the programme has empowered 108 young women from six senior secondary schools: Shakawe, Maun, Ghanzi, Matsha College, Mahupu, and Tsabong Unified. Designed for students pursuing pure sciences and aspiring to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the initiative aimed to ensure that no girl was left behind, no matter how remote her school or community.
Though this phase of GEMS concludes, the BIHL Trust and BIUST remain confident that its impact will endure. The 108 young women mentored over the past three years are now better equipped to become future engineers, researchers, coders, and leaders; lighting the path for generations of girls to come.
