Abuja: A group, PanAfricare Nigeria, says it will equip 14 underserved schools in six states with high-tech toolkits to encourage Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. Mr. Patrick Adah, the Country Director of PanAfricare Nigeria.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative to equip underserved schools is part of the organization’s newly unveiled ‘Innovation, STEM, and Partnerships for Inclusive and Relevant Education (INSPIRE) project’. The INSPIRE Box is a high-tech toolkit equipped with 3D printers, robotics kits, laptops, virtual reality headsets, coding software, merge cubes, and lab equipment. It is designed to bring interactive STEM learning to schools that have historically lacked such resources. The project will be implemented in 14 underserved schools in Abia, Bauchi, Kaduna, Lagos, Rivers, and the Federal Capital Territory.
In addition to distributing the toolkits, the initiative will include teacher training in modern STEM methodologies, mentorship programs, and STEM competitions. These efforts align with Nigeria’s Education Sector Renewal Initiative and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 5, 9, 10, and 17. STEM education is expected to boost healthy youthful curiosity and innovation, transforming students’ classroom learning experiences.
The initiative also places a deliberate focus on gender inclusion and accessibility, with more than 65 percent of the kits reserved for girls and three percent for students with disabilities. Adah commended the remarkable performances of Nigerian students in international STEM competitions, highlighting achievements such as Government Secondary School, Garki, winning the prestigious INSPIRE award and earning a place at the World Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas. Other notable accolades include Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, receiving the Innovation Project Award for the Open Africa Championship in South Africa, and Government Science Technical College, Garki, securing the Winning Alliance Award, which also grants participation in the World Robotics Championship in Houston.
Adah emphasized that the outstanding achievements of young innovators in tech challenges in Nigeria should be consolidated by the government and stakeholders. He expressed appreciation for the ExxonMobil Foundation’s long-standing support in equipping young individuals with modern learning tools and mentorship. Additionally, he highlighted the need for more sponsorship, partnerships, and collaborations to sustain the empowerment of schools and students with the right equipment to enhance STEM prowess.