The 5th edition of the Science and Technology Exhibition for Public Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in Anambra State has ended with a call for innovation with responsibility.
The event, organised by the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, held at the ASUBEB headquarters Awka where the young scientists showcased various forms of innovations produced with diverse materials from our immediate environment.
The chairman of the occasion, Mrs Susan Offiaeli in her opening remark described the event as a catch them young tactics, noting that science and technology are the key for national development, improvement of healthy living, economic growth and transformation of any society.
Presenting her address, the Desk Officer, Science and Technology, ASUBEB Awka, Mrs Edith Egbunike said the exhibition was one of the solid foundations laid for competitive education with the theme: “STEM and Society”, describing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM as a means of providing the child with basic knowledge and skills for Entrepreneurship and educational advancement.
Welcoming the guests, the Executive Chairman, ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi described the exhibition as the Board’s commitment to nurturing innovation, creativity, and scientific curiosity among the young learners.
“This exhibition aligns with the Anambra State Government’s commitment in the implementation of the newly introduced curriculum by Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC as manifested by such products as solar panels, CCTV, fashion and design, electronics, grinding machine, and water dispenser among others. It also provides a unique platform for pupils and students to demonstrate practical knowledge, originality, and problem solving skills through science and technology-driven ideas to equip our children with the skills required to adapt, innovate, and excel in a rapidly evolving global environment”, Dr. Nwadinobi observed.
While noting that the future of any society depends on the quality of education it offers its young population, the ASUBEB chairman lauded the State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR for his strategic leadership, policy direction, and huge investments in education, innovation and technology to make our children productive at home and exportable abroad.
In a keynote address, Prof. Dennis Aribodor who spoke on the theme of the event “STEM and Society” stressed that STEM is about people, society and the choices people make about knowledge which can produce a functional society.
Prof. Aribodor who is a professor of Public Health Parasitology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka called for innovation with responsibility to ensure that STEM education is done with ethics, values, equity and sustainable vision in providing today’s solution that change communities tomorrow and appealed to educators, policy makers, industry leaders, parents and learners to use STEM to shape the society we want to live in.
Highpoints were the inspection of the science and technology exhibitions by learners, parade by the six Educational Zones in the State, cultural dances, drama and award presentations to outstanding schools in Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists, JETS competition.
