Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL) has held the 2023 international symposium for Connected Learning for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CL4STEM), with participants advocating for a workable education through innovative approaches.
The CL4STEM symposium, with the theme "Innovative Approaches to STEM Instruction and Teacher Capacity Building," seeks a shift from the traditional way of teaching, which is more of a teacher-centred method, to the STEM model, which is a collaborative approach to teaching.
Addressing the participants before declaring the symposium open, Niger State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Daniel Yisa Loguma, said she was committed to fostering a transformative landscape in education in the state, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
She observed that STEM education stands at the forefront of global progress, serving as the bedrock for innovation, development, and problem solving in an ever-evolving world, adding that it is imperative to equip educators with the necessary tools, resources, and support they need to inspire the next generation of thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.
The Commissioner also disclosed that innovation lies at the heart of effective STEM education and that we must challenge traditional pedagogies, embrace emerging technologies, and cultivate an environment that nurtures creativity and critical thinking among both educators and students.
Also speaking at the event, Permanent Member Two of the State Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Haruna Arafat Abubakar, said the board will explore and key into the STEM model approach to teaching and learning to ensure that their teachers have the STEM education skills.
He observed that the emergence of the STEM model was timely and promised that the board will get in touch with the team to ensure that teachers under SUBEB, especially those in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, get the STEM skills.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of IBB University, Lapai, Prof. Abu Kasim Adamu, said that the institution had been doing the state proud with its recognition as a global centre of excellence in research and development among states' owned universities in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Director, Academic Planning of the institution, Prof. Aliyu Bello Mohammed, disclosed that IBB University was the first university to be given a Professorial Chair endowment by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on hydrocarbon research.
He added that IBB University had collaborated with both local, national, and international agencies in terms of research, and that on the CL4STEM project, in which about four countries—Nigeria, Tanzania, Bhutan, and TISS Mumbai, India—were involved, IBB University was leading the research.
The Vice Chancellor also assured that IBB University was committed to the project, and with the support of the state governor, who is the proprietor of the university, he had directed that CL4STEM be infused into the curriculum of the university education faculty.
He added that with the one-year extension given to do more work on the project, IBB University was hoping that partner countries, as well as Bayero University Kano and Kaduna State University, would work closely with the project team to ensure that the outcome of the studies is embedded in the respective country's policy formulation for education and curriculum development.
Also, in his address, the CL4STEM project global leader, Prof. Nuhu Obaje, gave an overview of how the project started with a proposal in 2020 and how it was selected under highly competitive bidding in 2022.
He disclosed that the project, which was funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, aimed at piloting an innovation for building the capacities of teachers of junior and middle secondary schools in science and mathematics to foster higher-order teaching with inclusion and equity in their classrooms and to research its effectiveness and potential scaling.
Prof. Obaje said the CL4STEM project was generally about shifting from the traditional way of teaching and learning to a more refined method of teaching that is student-centred rather than teacher-centred, calling on all critical stakeholders in education to mainstream the principles of. CL4STEM into curriculum development for secondary schools and further training of more teachers.
In her keynote virtual presentation, the Principal Technical Consultant of the programme from Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS), Prof. Padma Sarangapani, who was represented by Dr. Vikas Maniar, stressed the importance of the teachers in the implementation of the CL4STEM project.
There were also contributions from the Director General of the Nigeria Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna Dr. Ibrahim Sani, Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, the Executive Director of the Niger State Teachers Professional Development Institute, Dr. Mustapha Lemu, Director of the Kano State Science and Secondary School Board, Salihu Tijjani, and a host of other participants.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has declared the 42nd edition of the Federation of Public Service Games open in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Gov. Bago, who was represented by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Andulmalik Sarkindaji, appealed to the government at all levels, individuals, and corporate organisations to take deliberate efforts towards investing in sports development, especially in the area of facilities, in order to enhance the development of sports in the country.
Gov. Bago said that investment in sports development will go a long way in addressing the challenges facing the country and therefore make it very necessary for the government at all levels to pay special attention to the development of sports.
According to him, his administration has taken deliberate steps towards providing world-class sporting facilities across the state, beginning with the renovation and upgrading of the abandoned Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium Complex.
He pointed to the determination of his administration to create an environment where youth, especially athletes, can thrive and achieve their full potential.
The governor hinted that the government has begun the construction of the second phase of the Ahmadu Bahago Sports Complex currently hosting the FEPSGA, stressing that "the expansion will accommodate various indoor sporting activities.
He reminded the participants that the Federal Civil Service Games go beyond sports and are an avenue for national integration where people of different backgrounds come together to compete for trophies in a healthy and secure environment to foster a culture of brotherhood and sportsmanship.
Earlier, the Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yomi Esan, said the essence of the annual civil service games was about the wellness and wellbeing of civil servants in the country, adding that it was not all about winning medals and trophies.
She urged the participants to take the games seriously, as sports have now become a multi-billion-dollar venture all over the world.
Also in his goodwill message at the occasion, the former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalong, said that investment in sports will go a long way in addressing the security challenges facing the country, stressing that "if we invest in sports, we will have succeeded in addressing about 50 percent of our security challenges in this country”.
