The Nigerian government has announced its intention to recognize the top three winners of the 774 Young Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA).
The YONSPA Award is an annual competition hosted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, engaging secondary school students from the 774 Local Government Areas across the country’s 36 states.
During the certificate presentation to the winners, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister for Science, Technology, and Innovation, revealed that the competition aims to inspire students to embrace science subjects and pursue careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field.
The Minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation Mrs Esuabana Nko-Nsanye noted that the Ministry through Executive Order No. 5 is making efforts to advance STEM education in Nigeria and is interested in getting Science to the grassroots.
“Science is in everything that we do and there are local procedures that could be refined and harnessed for economic growth and development. This is why the Ministry is promoting the teaching of science subjects in our local languages.
“The future of every nation rest on the shoulders of the youths therefore it is our responsibility as the government to create an enabling environment to realise the potential in them to embrace Science Technology and Innovation to the fullest.” The Minister said.
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Nnaji further encouraged other stakeholders to join in motivating students by providing incentives that will spur them to pursue careers in sciences.
The Minister noted that the winners of the competition will receive cash awards and a presidential handshake during the Opening Ceremony of the Technology and Innovation Expo scheduled to be held on the 11th of March, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Chief examiner of the competition Professor Ono Ono who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology Minna, said that the competition focused on four Science and Technology subjects which are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
“Three states won the competition out of Twenty-Four of the Federation, Abdurahman Fadullah from Unity Senior College Lagos State came first, Atigah Faith from Adedokun International Schools Ogun State came Second and lastly Janelle Udeme Akpan from Loyola Jesuit College Abuja came third,” he said.
While expressing his satisfaction with the competition, Commissioner of Innovation Science and Technology Enugu State Southeast Nigeria Mr, Prince Lawrence said as stakeholders in the Science Technology and Innovation sector they want to see more students enrolling in science courses for the development of Nigeria in the areas of innovations.
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