SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND POVERTY ERADICATION: ANY CONNECTION WITH DEMOGRAPHY?

The position paper presents the interconnection between demographic and gender gap dimension in university admission, and the suspected limitations to the success of STEM curricula in Nigeria. The thoughts presented were supported by archivalreview of existing literature and empirical descriptive analysis of university enrolment with respect to STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The paper was a post-departmental seminar adjusted paper following audience comments. The presentation emphasised the systematic biases in support for higher institution with potential to constrain and weaken the humanities, social sciences and consequently discourage universities (especially the private) from advertising for humanities and social sciences courses. The result of analysis shows that the 4-year cumulative admission (2005-2008) for courses like agriculture, medical science, sciences and engineering was higher than the preceding 4-year (2001-2004) cumulative admission. The opposite was recorded in administration, arts, education and law, that range from 14.7% in 2006 to 18.5% in 2008. The social sciences witnessed 20% and 8.0% admission cut down in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Male/female enrolment gap range from 13.6% to 21.1%. The position is that STEM could be a dependable programme for technological advancement but the persistence gender gap in university enrolment could sustain the existing low economic status of women with possible potential for more socio-economic vices such as high fertility rate, infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, unemployment and poor family wellbeing. The authors recommend intervention programme that could boost women university enrolment in STEM subjects in Nigeria without relegating the humanities and social sciences