The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, in collaboration with RoboRave International, a U.S.-based robotics education academy, began a week-long robotics workshop for 460 elementary, secondary, and university students; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers; robotics enthusiasts; and scientists.
The training is being hosted at the American Corner at Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), Yaba, Lagos (October 23-25) and at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex, Abeokuta, Ogun State (October 26-28).
It is based on the STEM curriculum, which seeks to educate students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — in an interdisciplinary and applied approach
The workshop is organized primarily to boost technology education in Nigeria by engaging the participating students in hands-on robotics activities to stimulate their interest in math and science as well as careers in the STEM fields.
One hundred (100) robots will be donated free-of-charge to participating schools in Lagos and Ogun states, many of them with little or no experience in robotics. This is expected to provide the students and their teachers with an opportunity to put their skills to use following the completion of the training.
United States Consul General F. John Bray explained that the U.S. Mission is supporting the capacity building workshop in hopes that participants will be inspired to work collaboratively with the aid of technology to create innovative solutions to shared global challenges.
“In a world that’s becoming increasingly technology-driven, it’s more important than ever before for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to become innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders who can solve the most pressing challenges facing our world, both today and tomorrow. We are honored to support this initiative that promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — subjects collectively known as STEM— in Nigeria,” Consul General Bray said.
Kingsley Imade, program partner and director RoboRAVE Nigeria, explained that the training sessions will be facilitated by an international faculty, including RoboRAVE International Director of Global Programs Russ Fisher-Ives, and RoboRAVE North America Director Brian Montoya.
According to him, the sessions focusing on robotics designs and programming will provide a platform for teachers to learn how to implement the STEM approach in the educational process via practical scientific activities, throughout the training days.
“An education to develop robotics skills places students on track to develop such STEM enabling competencies like critical and computational thinking, collaboration and creativity that has lifelong advantages,”Imade, said.
