Lagos State government has pledged its unrelenting support to ensure Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects take its rightful place in the state’s educational environment as a means of promoting national development and industrialisation.
This was the outcome of the recently concluded 2019 Africa Industrialisation Day/Young African Industrialists Week, themed, ‘Positioning African Industry to Supply Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).’
The event showcased a model aircraft by students of the International College of Aeronautics in collaboration with Lagos State Polytechnic, built and designed to take off with little runway space.
Lola Akande, the commissioner for commerce and industry, Lagos State, in her closing remarks, said the reason for celebrating the week was to step up industrial activities in Lagos, noting that the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the overall economy was low.
Represented by Hakeem Adeniji, a director in the ministry, Akande urged the participants not to relent, stating, “It takes doggedness and perseverance to run a successful business in a state like Lagos.”
She equally encouraged the students to take advantage of several initiatives of the state government geared towards youth empowerment, as she assured residents of the state that the government was always ready to remove impediments within its purview.
According the commissioner, the recently declared state of emergency by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on road reconstruction and rehabilitation was to ensure free movement of goods and services with minimal traffic across the state.
Akande lauded the creative science-based researches exhibited at the 2019 Africa industrialisation day and young African industrialists’ week.
Tomiwa Olatunji, a representative of one of the participating schools, urged the students to show more interest in STEM and add their quota to national development.
Olatunji also said the designed model aircraft was good for surveillance, and had ability to take off on water and also land on water.
Oludara Okelola, the permanent secretary education district five, in a statement urged the participants to pay keen attention to STEM, stating her confidence in the children’s ability to take the nation to the next level in technology.
She however urged the government and parents for more enabling environment to harness the skills observed in the children.
Lagos State ministry of commerce presented awards for first, second and third places in the primary and secondary school category. Where First African Church Mission Primary School, Iju Ishaga, Ogba Primary School and Monsuru Agoro Nursery and Primary school came first, second and third respectively.
However, Government Technical College Ikeja, Abibatu Mogaji Millennium Senior Secondary School and Oriwu Junior Model College, Ikorodu, came first, second and third, respectively, in the secondary school category.
