Makoko, a suburb in the heart of Yaba, Lagos, is in the news again. Over the years, much has been heard and said about this slum community, which habours some of the poorest of the poor.
But the news coming from Makoko this time around is not about poor sanitation, absence of healthcare, diseases, squalor or its general state of neglect. It is not also about the dirty environment, where some estimated 25,000 active residents live in a world of their own. The news is not about the oily waters that provide a way of life for some the fishermen/women who dwell in makeshifts constructed with planks.
It is not about a miserable enclave, where the inhabitants move with the aid of canoes, which also serve as their lavatory. The news this time is about an occurrence that gladdens the heart, not only of the pupils who are the direct beneficiaries of the pleasant development, but also their parents who, in spite of the challenging environment they find themselves, are full of hope that their wards and children have a future.
Officials of Interswitch Group, in collaboration with Slum2School Africa, were in Makoko. The date was Thursday, May 17, 2018. It was a rare visit, as they made an invaluable donation; an innovation laboratory to the only school in the shantytown, aimed at bringing technology education to the pupils.
The laboratory, equipped with laptops, books and shelves and other learning materials, was donated to the Makoko Anglican School.
Slum2School Africa is a social development organisation which focuses on empowerment of disadvantaged children.
Mitchell Elegbe, the CEO of Interswitch described the donation as a gesture targeted to improve Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education in Africa as a strategy to solve societal challenges.
“The development and transformation of any society today is largely dependent on a relevant skilled workforce and innovation – two factors that require strong STEM knowledge and application.
“This sends a clear message that reminds us all that talent abounds everywhere and every child, irrespective of socio-economic class, should have access to qualitative education and opportunities to develop talents and aspirations,’’ said Elegbe.
He explained that STEM was out to help students learn critical thinking and problem-solving so as to prepare them as the next generation of leaders and innovators.
“We moved from the InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition to working with Slum2School to build STEM and innovation labs across Africa, that will ignite, increase and reward interest in STEM education.
Otto Orondaam, the CEO of Slum2School Africa, speaking about the donation, said that his organisation has enrolled 180 children into school at its maiden project in 2012 but had been able to put 1,500 children in school six years after.
The NGO, according to Orondaam, decided to partner with Lagos State government and Interswitch to bring the best innovation in STEM.
Orondaam hoped that the partnership would enable the organisations to reach out to more public schools and children in the slums, and lauded the involvement of Lagos State Education Board for creating an enabling environment for such a partnership.
“We know that the facility will enhance learning for every child who engages with it from not just Makoko but across Lagos State.
“Interswitch and Slum2School are on the right track to ensuring that access to relevant knowledge is provided for every child.
“We believe that this will be the first of many more STEM and Innovation Labs for children living in underdeveloped communities across Africa,” he said.
Alero Ayida-Otobo, the board chairman of Slum2School project, said that modelling innovations was a major way to transform a nation.
“The development of any society depends on the quality of education; setting up innovation labs, e- libraries will provide access to quality education for a lot of people.
“We found out that talents are not found in schools where quality education is not inherent; hence, we picked Makoko Anglican School.
“Setting up an innovation lab in this school will give the pupils access to the internet and enable them to learn more about the world which is technology-driven,” she said.
One of the pupils, who gave his as John and was seen admiring a computer attached to a canoe, said his ambition is to become a computer engineer in the future.
To the little John, trying his hands on the computer which is now available in his school, and growing up to master it, may well be the first early steps he needs to chart the way to fulfilling his life ambition.
Another pupil, 9-year-old Mercy, also shares her future ambition. “I want to be a nurse when I grow up. That’s what my mother wants me to be.”
To the Makoko community, and indeed, the pupils of the Anglican School, the donation from the Interswitch Group, Slum2School Africa and other partners in the project, is a rare gift.
JOSHUA BASSEY
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