Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has formally launched Innovation, STEM, and Partnerships for Inclusive and Relevant Education (INSPIRE) project, to stimulate students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in secondary schools.
The special initiative was launched in partnership with PanAfricare, ExxonMobil Foundation and TECHWomen Alumni Association Nigeria.
Highlight of the launch which took place at the conference hall of the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, was the donation of INSPIRE box containing educational innovative tools to the select schools by the implementing partners.
The tools including modern science laboratory equipment, are designed to address the resource gaps in science and technology education in secondary schools, providing students and teachers with the materials they need to learn, teach, and explore STEM in dynamic and hands-on ways.
Abia, representing the South-East geopolitical zone, is among the pilot six states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, selected for the project.
Speaking at the launch, the Country Director of PanAfricare, Dr Patrick Adah, said the project would prepare students “to begin their journey of pursuing knowledge that gives them global competence and making them ready for the job market of today.”
He enumerated key objectives of the project to include: bridging the resource gap in select underserved schools that lack basic teaching equipment and tools for STEM-based subjects; and strengthening teachers’ capacity, focusing on enhancing their ability to deliver engaging and effective STEM lessons.
Others include increasing access to innovative teaching tools to enrich the students’ learning experience and encourage experimentation; and expanding students’ exposure to diverse STEM topics, going beyond the standard curriculum to ignite their curiosity and inspire interest in STEM fields making them active participants in the current global knowledge economy.
According to him, comprehensive implementation of the objectives will significantly contribute to the long term development of “critical thinking and problem-solving skills among the students.”
He said: “Our primary goal in this project is to revolutionise the teaching and learning of STEM-based subjects in Nigeria by enhancing the innovative skills of students in the 14 select underserved secondary schools across Nigeria, empowering them to effectively address challenges and develop practical solutions within their communities.”
He further said that “INSPIRE Project builds upon the remarkable successes and achievements recorded in a similar project (Future Skill Project) implemented last year by PanAfricare with funding from ExxonMobil; and the STEM-in-A-Box project, previously implemented by TechWomen.”
He recalled that through the implementation of the Future Skill project in 14 schools in Abuja, “we witnessed the transformative power of equipping young individuals with modern learning tools and mentorship.”
Dr Adah noted that earlier in the year, one of the schools that participated in the project, Government Secondary School, Garki, won the prestigious INSPIRE Award, earning them a place at the World Robotics Championship in Houston, Texas.
According to him, another school in the project, Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, received the Innovation Project Award, that qualified them for the Open Africa Championship in South Africa.
He commended other implementing partners and the Abia State Government for keying into the project.
In a remark, National President of TechWomen Alumni Association Nigeria, Stella Uzochukwu, said the benefiting schools were chosen based on clearly defined criteria, including the presence of qualified teachers in STEM subjects and the existence of science or ICT laboratories that could effectively integrate the STEM tools provided by the project.
She said that teacher training workshop— “an integral component and strategic pillar of the INSPIRE Project,” would be held for the benefiting schools.
“These workshops are designed not only to equip educators with modern pedagogical skills and hands-on experience with STEM tools, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project’s impact by fostering a new generation of STEM educators and learners.”
Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Goodluck Ubochi, commended the implementing partners for including Abia as one of the pilot states for the project, and for their commitment in promoting STEM education.
He said that the INSPIRE project alligned with the vision of the Gov. Alex Otti- led administration to equip students with the “knowledge, tools and confidence to thrive in an increasingly technical world.”
The Commissioner who assured of the full support of the state government to the project, explained that “STEM is not just an academic discipline but a gateway to innovation, economic empowerment and global competitiveness.”
“By supporting our young learners today, we are shaping the inventors, engineers, scientists and leaders of tomorrow,” he declared.
He praised the partners for donating laboratory equipment and innovative tools to the benefiting schools – Ibeku High School, and Afougiri Girls Secondary School, all in Umuahia.
Tasking the benefiting schools to justify the gesture, the Commissioner said the items would “ignite curiosity, foster creativity and provide hands-on experiences essential for effective STEM learning.”
Unveiling the INSPIRE box, an alumna of TECHWomen, and a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Adanna Henri-Ukoha, listed the contents of the box as sets of laboratory equipment, laptops, phones, merge cube and google cardboard headset, microcontroller, coding software, boardgames, among others.
She said the tools represented more than just equipment—”they are the building blocks of curiosity, confidence, and competence in STEM,” adding that “for teachers, they provide the resources to implement modern, hands-on teaching methods, and for students, they open doors to innovation and discovery.”
According to her, “INSPIRE project arose as a result of the observation of the problem arising from the fact that female students are not interested in STEM due to the wrong feeling that it is a male dominated field.”
She said: “The essence of this project is to stimulate the interest of female students in STEM. So, we decided to bring in the state of the art equipment in physics, chemistry and biology that will help female students develop interest in core science subjects. We are also donating tools that will enhance learning in the areas of robotics and virtual realities. The idea is to ensure that the gender gap in STEM field is closed.”
Responding on behalf of the benefiting schools, the Principal of Ibeku High School (Senior Secondary), Elder Ekele Udemba Obioma, expressed gratitude for the gesture, and promised to safeguard them against vandals.
“I’m delighted about the donation. I’m happy our school was among those selected for the project. I have already signed a memorandum of understanding to safeguard the equipment against vandals, and to put them to good use.”
