Interswitch, an Africa-focused integrated digital payments and commerce company is driving the growth of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigerian secondary schools through its InterswitchSPAK 2.0 masterclass.
The company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative which is supposed to intellectually motivate secondary school children had 81 students attend the second edition of the masterclass held in Lagos last Monday, out of over 13,322 students from various private and public secondary schools across Nigeria who wrote the National Qualifying Examinations in April 2019.
Interswitch held its annual masterclass for school children on in Lagos. The program which is in its second edition tagged InterswitchSPAK 2.0 Masterclass was attended by the top 81 students out of over 13,322 students from various private and public secondary schools across the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT who wrote the National Qualifying Examinations in April.
The day-long masterclass which is geared towards redefining STEM education in the country, is a build up to the actual competition where the top three would emerge as winners of the competition.
Speaking at the event, Mitchell Elegbe, GMD/CEO, Interswitch Group described the event as an attempt at promoting STEM education in the country. “The importance of the masterclass is basically around the fact that the students are very smart with very high IQ, and as you know in life to succeed you need more than IQ. there is the social and emotional quotient. So what we are trying to do in the masterclass is to expose them to certain things that are critical for them, which they may not find in their traditional classes in school.”
” It is very common these days to have lots of events where people go in and they win money. If we are not careful, youths may begin to think that science is not important and as you all know, innovation is one big way to eliminate poverty. We think despite the challenges of our environment, we must continue to ensure that we encourage our young ones to go for STEM subjects. Not only because we want them to take part in technology oriented courses but the fact that STEM subjects has a way of helping to form the way you reason and that huge analytical ability can be applied anywhere,” he added.
Elegbe also stated that the goal for the program is to become Pan-African, as Kenya held its maiden edition this year.
“Ultimately, we would like to make this event Pan-African, of course starting in countries where Interswitch has a local presence and that is why we have gone to East Africa now. This year the Kenyans took part, next year we would like to extend it to Uganda and potentially Tanzania and Rwanda. We would also look at the west coast next year, maybe Ghana, Gambia and places where we do not do business today.”
Also present to motivate the students were Ayokunnu Ojeniyi representing Jumoke Oduwole, senior special assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment and Ola Orekunrin, managing director, Flying Doctors.
Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson
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