Kodou Alieu Jeng, a senior telecommunications engineer with over 20 years of experience in fiber and microwave transmission at Gamcel, founder and President of Women in STEM Gambia (WiSTEM Gambia), and CEO of WiSTEM Africa, has emerged as one of The Gambia’s most influential voices in promoting gender-inclusive STEM education and innovation.
In an exclusive interview with The Alkamba Times for its International Women’s Day special edition, Jeng shared the personal experiences that drove her to establish WiSTEM Gambia and expand it into a continent-wide movement now active across 21 African countries. She reflected on the barriers she faced as often the only woman in her university classes and professional spaces, and how those realities fueled her mission to provide mentorship, exposure, and guidance to young girls.
“Throughout my undergraduate studies and professional career, I was often the only woman… I knew I had the potential to contribute meaningfully to national development,” she said. “What was missing was mentorship, exposure, and proper guidance.” Recognizing that Africa’s large female population cannot be excluded from STEM if sustainable development is to be achieved, she founded WiSTEM Gambia and later WiSTEM Africa to bridge that gap.
WiSTEM Gambia has grown into a vibrant network with over 1,000 professional members and significantly higher student membership through school chapters, including at Gambia College. Key initiatives include annual STEM conferences, pitching competitions, STEM fairs, career days, structured mentorship programs, scholarship opportunities for underprivileged students, innovation workshops, and a new National Innovation Competition launching this year.
WiSTEM Africa, led by President Dr. Aminata Dambele (PhD in Artificial Intelligence), recently celebrated a major win when Dr. Dambele secured first place at a pitching competition at the African Union. “Women have been left behind in these sectors for far too long,” Jeng emphasized, “and their active participation is a plus for our continent.”
Despite her focus on impact over personal acclaim, Jeng has received prestigious recognition, including STEM Woman of the Year at the Africa Digital Economy Awards in Nairobi. She views such platforms as opportunities to showcase Gambian talent and attract partnerships. She expressed gratitude to The Gambia’s Vice President for his support and advice to collaborate with the Ministry of Basic Education, as well as to Honorable Habibatou Drame for championing an MOU with the organization.
Addressing persistent barriers—limited-equipped STEM labs, digital literacy gaps, and cultural stereotypes—Jeng stressed the importance of “catching them young” through school chapters, visible female role models, teacher-professional coordination, and motivational awards. She called on the government to invest in practical STEM labs and integrate digital literacy into the school curriculum from an early age, citing tech leader Strive Masiyiwa’s view that children under 12 will live in an AI-driven world.
Jeng highlighted how STEM intersects with critical sectors like agriculture (enabling climate-smart practices and tech-driven solutions), the digital economy (creating and leading tech innovations), and national development (driving inclusive economic growth). She commended the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts in establishing Climate-Smart Villages, introducing new rice varieties, and expanding digital advisory services through the national e-extension platform.
Balancing a demanding career at Gamcel, authorship (including a memoir and historical works on The Gambia), leadership of two organizations, public speaking, travel, and family responsibilities—including caring for elderly parents—Jeng acknowledged the challenges: “It gets tough sometimes… At times, it can feel overwhelming.” Yet she remains committed, using annual leave for WiSTEM activities and crediting her executive team for their support. “Nothing good comes easy,” she said.
Her advice to young Gambian girls and women aspiring to STEM or leadership is clear and empowering: “Believe in your abilities and never allow stereotypes to limit your ambitions… Seek mentors, remain curious, embrace challenges… Do not wait for permission to lead—build your competence and step forward boldly.”
Rooted in Gambian values of resilience, faith, humility, and community responsibility, Jeng envisions a future where Gambian women lead innovation hubs, head telecom companies, pioneer AI research, and shape continental policy—with fully equipped STEM labs in schools nationwide and WiSTEM chapters expanding across Africa.
On harnessing digitalization for national prosperity, she urged the government to treat it as a top development priority: update the ICT4D Policy, develop a clear National Digital Transformation Strategy, ensure strong coordination and accountability, support infrastructure sharing, cybersecurity, and innovation sandboxes, and prioritize gender inclusion in digital programs and leadership roles.
As The Alkamba Times celebrates trailblazing Gambian women this International Women’s Day, Kodou Jeng stands as a powerful example of vision, perseverance, and dedication—proving that Gambian women are not only participating in the STEM revolution but are actively leading it to drive Africa’s sustainable progress and inclusive future.
