Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk has tasked Nigerian teachers and youths on science education describing it as the bedrock of any development in the society.
The Minister gave the charge while flagging off the ministry’s STEM Project at the Federal Government College and Government Secondary School, all in Kano state.
She said the STEM project which stands for Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics was designed to improve students’ and teachers’ education in public schools in the sciences using electronic platforms, especially computers and internet.
“Everyone of our children should be able to be versatile in computer and related subjects. That is why the Federal Government has started this by providing these centres and I sincerely hope you will help and assist by making sure that students use this centre regularly.”
“Very regularly because science forms the bedrock of everything. So, it is left for all of us to make sure that the students utilize these centres,” said the Minister.
She said each of the centres, 218 of them selected across the country, is equipped with 25 All In One Desktop PC, 24inch Screen Intel 2.8 GHz quad-core, 25 Desktop tables and Chairs,1 Projector of 5000 lumens,1 magnetic whiteboard for learning and 1 WiFi Routers multi-SIM18 Elegoo Robotics set6.
“Technically, the project aims at providing e-Learning facilities through the establishment of a State-of-the-Art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and modern teaching content, to serve as a one-stop-shop environment for students in public Secondary Schools to have access to digital and updated learning materials in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, while also developing their ICT skills including the use of the Internet for various purposes,” explained the Minister.
The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali.
Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje, who was represented by Secretary to the Kano State Government Alhaji Usman. Alhaji urged students to take the STEM project seriously as the future belongs to those with science and technical knowledge.
“I advise the students to make effective use of the items provided because the future can only support those with science and technology knowledge,” said Ganduje.
The Kano State Commissioner for Education, Sanusi Kiru said the facilities will be maximally used and taken care of for the benefit of the students and the society.
“I want to assure you that the materials and equipment will be fully utilized for training and retraining of the students with maximum security,” he assured.
One of the students at the STEM centre in GSS, Rano, Bashir Abdullahi said the centre has provided an opportunity for him and others to learn practicals rather than theories thought through verbal description and drawings on the blackboards.
“I want to become a Computer Engineer in the future, with these facilities now I will be able to learn fast, especially in the practical aspect, even before going to the University. We are very grateful for this opportunity,” said Abdullahi.
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