‘Nigerian needs to harness her space science education potential ’

Seun Elemo , a Space science expert and senior scientific officer at the African regional centre for space science and technology education in English (ARCSSTE-E), has advocated the introduction of space education as a subject in secondary schools curriculum in Nigeria.

Elemo stated this in the assembly hall of West African Peoples’ Institute (WAPI), Calabar and venue for a workshop tagged “Robotic Education Programme (REP) organised for public secondary schools in Cross River State.

According to him, with the way the world is going presently, robot is taking over everything and, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. “We can’t use old existing science platform to address present scientific needs hence, the need for us to have space science as a subject in our school curriculum”. Adebusola Akinyeye, a representative of Lego Education West Africa, said the workshop is aimed at igniting creativity and innovation among Nigerian students who are science inclined. She was of the view that with consistency in such awareness in robotic education among Nigerian students, in the near future Nigeria may not see the need to import certain goods or expatriate services into the country as the country would have had enough man power to solve such problems.

Akinyeye decried the continuous absence of student representatives from the south-south geo political zone in most of the national as well as international programmes often organized for science students and, called for an active participation in subsequent ones.

Some of the visions of robotic education program (REP) include; the need to inspire young learners and develop their interest in science, to inculcate collaborative thinking as well as develop a team spirit among others.

Highlight of the event was a quiz competition among participating schools as well as the presentation of gift items to exceptional students during questions and answers session. At the end of the exercise, Udoabang Joshua alongside Rebecca Ini both students of Government Secondary school, Uwanse came first and a student representative of Hope Waddell Training Institute came second while NYSC Demonstration secondary school clinched the third position.