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
Vanguard
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