Only a refined education system, properly educated workforce and entrepreneurial class will have the skills and drive to thrive as new technologies change the nature of work, leisure, the environment, and society – and to tackle Nigeria’s most pressing challenges.
On a mission to strengthen competencies, particularly in STEM and digital literacy, for students, to effectively transition from education to employment, STEMi Makers Africa partnered with the U.S Consulate General, Lagos State to train Educators from public and private schools across four states in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.
Based on the Strategy Lead of STEMi Makers Africa, Amanda Obidike said the project was to refine Educator’s instructional pedagogy in Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo State, as a Train-the-Trainer Project to create a solid STEM foundation through a 4-phase integrated approach to ensure that Educators have skills set that allows them to inform students on STEM careers prospects, motivate and support them throughout their education/career so that they can excel and become more experienced for Africa’s workforce.
The project commenced from the 1st of February to the 12th of February 2021 where STEMi Makers Africa visited each of the states for a 2-days intensive and hands-on training. Each of these states brought together a diverse group of Science and Technology, Education, and socio-economic empowerment stakeholders, and encouraged practical hands-on activities around improving teaching practices and learning outcomes through quality capacity building for Educators in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.
Educators were exposed to design thinking, programming, Circuiting, embedded systems, prototyping, computing, STEM Pedagogy, Skills of the Future and Entrepreneurship. The program also encouraged Break-out sessions of 6 for Educators to identify existing societal problems and come up with sustainable solutions like products, applications and technology advancement.
The project also had worthy presence of the Commissioner of Science and Technology of Enugu State; Sir Obi Kama in Enugu on the 8th of February, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Abia State on the 5th of February; Sir Eze Ajuzie in Umuahia and Remy Chukwunyere, a representative of the former Chief of Staff to the Imo State Government, Uche Nwosu Ugwumba in Owerri on the 1st of February 2021.
95% of jobs have become automated, hence, preparing and equipping students with job-ready, transferable skills enhances their employment opportunities and triggers a virtuous circle of improved labor market outcomes, increased productivity, Innovation and Economic growth for economies in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa at large.
Amanda also shared that “We, at STEMi Makers Africa understand the importance of preparing the younger generation in STEM and we thank the U.S Consulate General for the tremendous support given to the first of its kind “Train-the-Trainer” in the South-East region of Nigeria. We look forward to ensuring that Educators serve as role models, career and academic supporters as they nurture the younger generation. We will be following up on the schools, Educators and their students towards ensuring they are given the adequate and technical support they need.
We thank the U.S Consulate General; Lagos, Ministry of Science and Technology, Enugu State, the Ministry of Education, Abia State and supporting partners like the Ugwumba Leadership Academy, General Electric, ThisDay LIVE Newspaper, Calal Global, the MAI Foundation and Global Shapers, Ozubulu.
