Emma Okonji
Coderina Education and Technology Foundation in collaboration with SAP and National Library of Nigeria (NLN), has launched INClusive STEAM Libraries Project aimed at evolving libraries across Nigeria to become venues for informal Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) centers to provide the youth with lifelong learning skills and competencies.
The collaboration seeks to address Africa’s skills gap in the age of technology.
The partners cited the World Economic Forum, as saying: “The root of unemployment is not only lack of jobs; a key underlying issue is also the inadequately educated workforce. And this challenge is likely to be amplified in the coming years due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterised by fast-paced technological progress combined with other socio-economic and demographic changes, which will further transform labor markets.”
They stressed that the time to address skills shortages is now, adding that education must be aligned to the pace of change and expanding skill needs of Industry 4.0, be it formal or informal.
The goal of the Inclusive STEAM Libraries project is to create an enabling environment for every young learner including and out-of-school and unemployed youth, or those looking to gain job-readiness skills where they can visit to gain practical hands-on, minds-on learning experience in coding, robotics, 3D printing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Web and App Development and other 4IR skills and competencies, while also being provided with information, opportunity and choices to prepare them for the future of work or entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the project launch in Lagos recently, the Deputy Director/Head of Branch National Library of Nigeria, Lagos State, Mrs. Obianuju Onuorah, expressed delight over the project, which she said would boost hands-on experience among student community in the library.
She said although for ages library is known as a ‘silence zone’, but NLN is moving along with trends in the world hence the creation of digital sections.
Onuorah who described the initiative as ‘very good initiative’, further said: “I believe strongly that the students and staff will benefit from it. Initially, the Library is seen as a very quiet place; where you come and read. However, as the reading culture changes, the library has become an inter-disciplinary community. We have to move along with trends in the world. So, in the library now you have the digital section.
“Also, we have discovered that students do not appreciate long reading. They prefer the hands-on experience and that is why the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has created the digital section where we catch them young. The only difference in the library is that the students are monitored to avoid abuses or misuse of the digital tools.
“So, I am very happy with this initiative because it will benefit our community, especially those that ‘do not like to read’, they will benefit more with the hands-on experience.”
Onuorah also said NLN was interested in promoting STEAM “because its mandate is to make sure the Nigerian society reads. So we organise readership promotion campaign through which we sensitise the general public, especially students and pupils on the need to read. We believe that when we catch them young they will grow with it”.
Regional Sales Director, West Africa at SAP, Titilayo Adewumi, who was represented by the Technology Head, SAP Africa, Folusho Ade-Ogunrinde, said the INClusive STEAM Libraries Project falls within the core vision of the company.
According to her, SAP’s reason for the partnership is to uplift the host communities, among other reasons.
Adewumi said: “The core of SAP vision is to improve people’s lives and to help the world run better. We do that through technology and partnership. The reason for the partnerships is to uplift the communities in which SAP is present.”
