Here is the World's most interesting mathematician bridging the gender gap in maths

As the academic manager for the master’s in mathematical sciences for teachers program at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Tabiri ensures high school teachers from across the continent build a strong foundation in maths, so they, in turn, can teach it better. She also leads the Girls in Mathematical Sciences Programme, a mentoring initiative aimed at inspiring more high school girls to see themselves in maths-related careers.

But her work goes far beyond the classroom. Through her personal project, Femafricmaths, Tabiri is amplifying the voices and stories of African women in mathematics, a project she began during her PhD studies in Glasgow, UK. “I couldn’t find mentors who looked like me,” she recalls. “I wanted to change this narrative.”

"The goal is to bridge the gap, the gender gap in math, and also to inspire more girls to pursue mathematics-related fields. In my private life, I manage Femafricmaths, an initiative I started when I was studying for a PhD in Glasgow in the UK. I looked around me and I couldn't find mentors who looked like me, or I couldn't hear their stories either online or in person, and I wanted to change this narrative," she told Global South World in an interview.

Her teaching style blends cultural familiarity with academic rigour. She uses examples rooted in everyday Ghanaian life, such as explaining the geometry behind a 'koko' (porridge) seller’s pan, and often teaches in local languages. “If you explain in a language the child dreams in, they get it,” she says.

What began as storytelling on social media has evolved into community outreach and online maths clubs for primary school children. For Tabiri, the subject is about more than solving for ‘x.’ “Maths isn’t only about finding answers,” she says. “It’s about finding purpose.”