STEM
Interswitch Group in collaboration with Slum2School Africa has donated an innovation laboratory at a public school located in a slum in Lagos to bring technology education nearer to pupils in shantytowns.
The laboratory, equipped with laptops, books and shelves and other learning materials, was donated to the Makoko Anglican School, Yaba.
Lagos State Ministry of Education was also a partner in the project unveiled on Thursday.
Slum2School Africa is a social development organisation aimed at empowering disadvantaged children.
The Interswitch Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mitchell Elegbe, said at the event that the company would do its best 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,’’ he said.
Mitchell noted that STEM helped students to learn critical thinking and problem-solving so that they could be 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.
The Chief Executive Officer of Slum2School Africa, Mr Otto Orondaam, said that the organisation enrolled only 180 children into school at its maiden project in 2012 but had been able to put 1,500 children in school six years after.
He said that the NGO 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.
He lauded the 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.
Mrs 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 pupils access to Internet and enable them to learn more about the world which is technology-driven,” she said
