More than 170 students and teachers from 12 public and private secondary schools have been trained in using STEM technological packages to develop Africa.
Pan African University of Life and Earth Sciences Institute, University of Ibadan, in collaboration with partners, organised the 2023 STEM Showcase in Ibadan at the institute’s premises on Wednesday.
The African Union Commission’s (AUC) fund sponsored the event for students ages nine to 17.
In his address, the Deputy Director of PAULESI, Dr. Michael Oladunjoye, represented by the institute’s Research Officer, Dr Adedapo Adediji, said the event was designed to inspire the minds of young Africans to embrace technology.
He noted that having a firm grip on STEM applications would help the students develop problem-solving skills and creativity for the continent’s overall development.
“We hope that this STEM showcase will inspire you and also give you valuable insight, guidance, and an understanding of the abundant possibilities that STEM offers,” Oladunjoye said.
Also, the PAULESI Centre of Excellence Liaison Officer, Mr Mayowa Oladipupo, said the event’s objective was to ignite and inspire innovation and creativity among young Africans.
Oladipupo said students should have theoretical knowledge and scholars who could translate the theoretical into practical solutions.
“We have sessions with the teachers also because this event is just to stimulate ideas in the students so that they can take it up from there where we stop.
“One of the sessions with the teachers is about how to use STEM as an approach to learning. We are going to sell the vision to the teachers so that, after this event, they can take it up in their various schools.
“We believe it is a collaboration thing with high schools to have an understanding of the concept of STEM; application of innovation and creativity so that eventually we can have a holistic impact on the students,” Oladipupo said.
Some of the students who spoke in an interview, Halimat Adetunji of The Vale College and Uche Kajauche from St. Gabriel’s Commercial Secondary School, said the event was an opener and it has further stimulated their interest in science.
Also, one of the teachers in attendance, Mrs Chimeze Njoku from Macman College Agbowo, Ibadan, said she learned to improve her ability to pass instructions to students by leveraging technology.
Another teacher, Mrs Victoria Ogunbitan from Emmanuel Grammar School, Ibadan, said her eyes have been opened to creative ways teaching and learning could be done that was different from the traditional means of teaching she had been using.
“Now I have been exposed to some applications on Google and other packages that can make teaching and learning more effective in my school,” Ogunbitan said.
The sessions featured robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, laser cutting, etc.
