Those who think that Nigeria
does not have what it takes for global competitiveness in the knowledge economy
should better have a rethink
With the innovative skills
shown by the talented Nigerian students, there are positive signals that the
country will not left out in the 21st century knowledge society.
Just this summer, no fewer
than seven students from both public and private schools will showcase their
creative skills at the First Global Robot Challenges slated to hold in
Washington, the United States of America with 149 other nations.
The students who are presently
based in a tech studio, according to the promoters, were picked from different
schools in Lagos. Many of them, it was learnt, have represented Nigeria in
similar competitions in the past.
Founded by philanthropic
inventor, Dean Kamen to inspire a passion for science and technology leadership
and innovation among the world’s more than two billion youths, First Global
provides the framework for an Olympics-style robotics event that drives home
the importance of obtaining the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) skills needed by future leaders to overcome the greatest
challenges facing our world today and tomorrow.
“By engaging the students of
the world in a collaborative competition to help solve the world’s most
pressing problems, FIRST Global inspires students to learn the skills they will
need to make the discoveries their parents and grandparents would consider
miracles, fantasies, or just plain science fiction,” FIRST Global Founder Dean
Kamen, said.
For the national coordinator
of the programme in Nigeria, Mrs. Remi Willoughby, who addressed Technology
Journalists at the weekend, “We need to fully address the evident deficit in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics in our educational system.
Research has shown that
children will rather take courses in arts and commercial subjects than these
ones. Unfortunately this is not helping us. The government needs to find a way
to encourage more students to take these courses in the secondary and tertiary
institutions.”
“We have gathered some of the
best students in robotics to represent Nigeria in Washington. These students
were picked based on their interest and performances in past competitions in
Nigeria and internationally. We look forward to an exciting outing.”,
Willoughby added.
Also speaking, the Managing
Director, Aramex Nigeria and co-sponsor of the First Global project in Nigeria,
Faisal Jarmakani described the opportunity as “timely”.
According to him, “Nigeria
needs to find its place on the global map of technology in developing
countries. Without any doubt this competition will dictate the future of
technology advancement and we are seeing it happen in our very own eyes.”
He hinted that the decision to
co-sponsor, with his brother Omar Jarmakani, is based on the need to encourage
the youth to embrace technology and robotics. “This will further ignite their
passion and bolster their skills – emboldening them to become mentors,
advocates and professionals in the area of stem in Nigeria.”
According to Emeritus
Professor of Physiology at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos
Soga Sofola, also a national coordinator of the First Global Olympics, the
students have been spending time together since January, trying to master the
rudiments of Robots design through tutorials in maths, physics and engineering
including programming especially using Java, carried out by competent
instructors.
They have also started
building their robots since the arrival of the components, a couple of weeks
ago, he said
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