Our aim is to build future generation with technological innovation-VC, Covenant University

By allcitynews.ng

The Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Chemical Society of Nigeria, and Nigerian Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo has identified science as tool that can be used to create million of jobs in the nearest future.

Just as the Covenant University, Chemical Society of Nigeria, and Nigerian Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers Vice Chancellor, charged Federal Government  to focus more in technological studies to  make children at young age adopt technology and tap the abundant supernatural resources for develop technological advancement.

Reiterating that in science lies the key to the building of the future,  Adebayo while declaring the 2024 Science Olympiad, which took place in the Laboratory Department in Covenant University, Ota, opened, stressed that the competition is meant to improving the quality of science education, increasing a technologically literate workforce and provide recognition for outstanding achievement by both students and teachers.

On his own part, the National Director of Science Olympiad Nigeria, Mr Adewunmi Odunaike, “We cannot develop without science, so it is essential to catch these students when they are young,” he said.

According to Odunaike, the Olympiad involves getting to know the theoretical and practical knowledge of the students in solving everyday problems.

Likewise, the Secretary, Executive Committee on Innovation and Strategy, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Okeh Ochulo,  explained that as nations are built by science, Nigeria should focus more Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for infrastructural development.

Moreover, Ochulo said as education and the application of technology empower every student to use their creativity and  helps to develop their problem-solving skills, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) should be encouraged in schools.

In the same vein, a staff in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) School, Lagos, Oluwafemi Adenuga, explained that
26 Schools registered for the National Tournament from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Abia, Osun, Anambra, Kaduna and Zamfara but others, especially those from northern part of the country due to insecurity along their routes could not join in the competition.

Adenuga appealed to parents to encourage more young people to embrace STEM because that’s a major determinant of national prosperity and to fortify the capability of the nation’s workforce, and can help us as a nation achieve the economic objective of the SDG.

It got to its peak as Skyfield International College, Oba Ile, Akure, Ondo State went home with cash gift.

The second prize went to the Science Olympiad Nigeria Best School of the Decade Division A – Ifako International School, Ifako –  Agege, Lagos.

Likewise, the third prize went to the Science Olympiad Nigeria Coach of the Decade award Division A, Mrs. Eze Ndidi Regina (Ifako International School, Ifako – Agege, Lagos

The fourth went to Science Olympiad Nigeria Coach of the Decade award Division B, Mrs. Olufemi Adenuga (TSI College, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos).

While the Science Olympiad Nigeria National tournament Champions & Winners Overall: Division A (Primary School) was won by TSI Nursery & Primary School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

The  second position went to Ifako International School, Ifako – Agege, Lagos.

Third position was Giggles Montessori School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.
In the Division B for Junior Secondary schools, the first position was TSI College, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos. The second position was Skyfield International College, Oba Ile, Akure, Ondo State.
The third position was Kings Anchor College, Ikotun, Lagos.

And also, the competition has three stages for Division A, meant for elementary science Olympiad. Division B for junior secondary and Division C for senior secondary.

In chat with allcitynews.ng, some of the children, between ages 11 and 14 that took part in the final competition that took place in Covenant University Science Laboratories, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria, described the competition as eye openers and something that can make them future employers of labour.

The students commended the organiser for  the wealth of experience they got from competition.

The tournament is meant to encourage the children to see STEM as tool for their future achievement as STEM syllabus is comprised of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM education and the application of technology empower every student to use their creativity and it helps to develop their problem-solving skills.

In a related development, the Honourable Minister of State for Police Affairs has pointed out that there is no success without a successor to reinforce the need for inculcating and passing on knowledge on science, technology, engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) to pupils of the Police Primary School in Abuja.

In the statement made available to allcitynews.ng by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations Unit, Bolaji O. Kazeem, the Minister made the declaration during the inspection of the  STEAM programme put together by the Honourable Minister of State, Police Officers Wife’s Association in partnership with Peace Institute led by Professor Hauwa Ibrahim held at the Police Secondary School in Abuja.

The Minister stated that the programme was meant to encourage and promote children to be serious about their education, increase their imagination, creativity, and improve on their can-do attitude as well as thinking big toward the future.

According to her,  “The future of learning revolves around STEAM, and adding art to it was to carry along the children who are not science-oriented. We look forward to expanding the training to accommodate more students as we are continuing with the training of teachers to transfer the skills and impact more on the students”.

Imaan said that the summer lesson message is to demonstrate the ongoing Renewed Hope Police Reforms within the primary and secondary schools in the police ecosystem as a strong commitment of the government to drive excellence in the police institutions and make them a choice school in two years.

The Mandate Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi disclosed the FCT just concluded the STEAM programme in four wards of the city namely Kagini, Karu, Kwasah, and Karamajiji adding that 250 children were involved in each ward including disability and vulnerable children.

Laniyi said, “We have more girl-children on this programme than boys and ensure that the knowledge is transferred to our indigent teachers”.

The Peace Institute team from the University of Rome led by Prof Hauwa Ibrahim, a visiting lecturer from Harvard University stated that 80 per cent of products used for the experiment in the Art, Science, and Technology classes were gotten from the trash in a bid to encourage them to turn trash into treasurable things.

According to her, “The students have been inspired through the experiments they perform in the classes. The children are amazing and the programme has impacted 1500 children and hope to do more. Nobody can do it alone; we all have to pinch in a little bit of something. If we can encourage everybody to be together and add a little bit of something, Nigeria has more talent than you can ever imagine”.

Pic Correct: Police students, Peace Institute Leader, Prof Hauwa Ibrahim, and Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim during the inspection of the  STEAM programme held at the Police Secondary School in Abuja.

Group: ACP Ibidapo Olubiyi; ; Matilda Belleggia; Angelica Felici Caravella; Prof Hauwa Ibrahim, and Minister of State for Police Affairs, FCT Mandate Secretary, Mrs. Adebayo Benjamins-Laniyi; Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; CP S. W. Abdul; POWA FCT Secretary, Mrs. Oyarekha Fatimo, POWA PRO, Comfort Omoleye; Director Police Inspectorate (MPA), Bola Aderele; David Marulanda and others during the inspection of the  STEAM programme held at the Police Secondary School in Abuja.