The participation of girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based careers bridge the gender gap and empower more women to solve the world�s challenges. Delivering a keynote address at the L�Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa awards 2023 dialogue session in Kasane on Wednesday, First Lady Neo Masisi said girls needed motivation and encouragement that they were capable of excelling in STEM subjects, adding that the stereotypical belief that girls could not cope with the subjects was wrong. She urged parents to change the perception that STEM professions were meant for the boy child only, noting that government policy on the provision of education emphasised equity, access and gender sensitivity. She also noted that local learning institutions and universities had targeted programmes aimed at promoting the uptake of science-based careers by female students. The First Lady said figures had shown that fewer women and girls enrolled for subjects relating to STEM subjects compared to their male counterparts. She added that professions related to STEM subjects were dominated by men as women constituted only 30 per cent. First Lady Masisi said STEM professions had been identified as some of the drivers of the national transformation agenda in line with Sustainable Development Goal four. She thanked the foundation and UNESCO for choosing Botswana and Chobe in particular for the awards, saying it motivated young girls and boys from Chobe Junior Secondary School to pursue STEM careers in the future. She commended Bonolo Phinius and Mesha Mbisana for being among the 2023 laureates from Botswana, also noting that four other local young women had been recipients of the prestigious award between 2017 and 2021. Loreal Foundation CEO, Ms Alexandra Palt said the empowerment of promising young women scientists was crucial in order to advance global efforts in research. She said she believed in women empowerment and that more than 50 per cent of their leadership positions were held by women. Ms Palt also noted that scientists in Africa represented only 2.5 per cent of the world�s researchers although the continent was faced with many challenges in engineering, medicine, biology, technology and agriculture that could be addressed by research. She highlighted that STEM careers were driven by passion and had many challenges, but presented many opportunities and a fulfilling career. She said they provided over 250 grants in more than 110 countries to empower women scientists to pursue their careers, adding that 30 young talented African women researchers in biochemists, epidemiologists, ecologists, those dealing with artificial intelligence and public health had been awarded grants this year. In her remarks, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja encouraged Chobe JSS pupils to pursue STEM subjects, saying science had the potential to propel Botswana to a high-income economy. She said they were fortunate to have been selected as guests for the dialogue and to listen and learn from young African scientists who were once their age. �This dialogue should motivate you because you are in the presence of greatness, and don�t take it for granted,� said Ms Makwinja. Kasane Customary Court president, Kgosi Thuso Wasetso commended L�Or�al Foundation and UNESCO for staging the awards and dialogue in Kasane, saying it would transform the young generation and build a bright future. He said STEM professions were the driver of a knowledge-based economy as espoused in the Reset Agenda.