By Sunday Elom N
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in partnership with Siemens Energy, recently held a training programme on the theme, ‘Experimento-STEM’ for 15 facilitators and 30 basic school teachers in Bayelsa state.
According to the general manager, capacity building division of NCDMB, Dr Ama Ikuru, the training, which was held at the Board’s Conference Hall, NC Towers in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, was intended to ensure innovative teaching of sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, education for the younger generation.
The teachers were selected through nomination by the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, from 10 primary schools in the state.
Experimento-STEM is an international education programme offered by Siemens Stiftung and Empowering Africans Through Education Initiative, EATEI, towards a modern approach to STEM education that provides educators with practical training and continuing education opportunities as well as high quality teaching and learning experience.
In his speech at the beginning of the training, Ikuru noted that the Board was on a mission to develop local capacities and capabilities in-country, to spur technology, science and support activities in the oil and gas industry.
He further explained that STEM education was critical to the attainment of the core mandate of the NCDMB as regards local manufacturing and development of Nigerian materials, products, technologies and solutions required for the growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry and its sectoral linkages.
According to him, “The global science and technology space has witnessed unprecedented competition and disruptive innovations. Accordingly, the need to promote and ensure the sustainable growth of STEM education in the oil and gas industry and other linkage sectors is critical.
“The sustainable growth and competitiveness of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors largely depend on the sustainable development of local capacities / capabilities, technology, and solutions which is consistent with the 10-year strategic Road Map of targeted at growing Nigerian Content from 27 percent in 2017 to 70 percent by 2027; retain over $14billion out of $20billion industry spend in-country; and create 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.”
Ikuru reiterated that the core purpose of the programme is to scale up research and development; promote development of local technology, innovation and solutions; lift up local manufacturing and encourage competitiveness of the nation’s economy; stimulate industrialization of the economy; stimulate sustainable growth and diversification of the economy and create a buffer in controlling the impact of destructive technology and smart innovations on the local economy.
The NCDMB leader commended Siemens Stiftung, Siemens Nigeria and Empowering Africans Through Education Initiative, EATEI, for the collaboration and commitment towards driving STEM education.
Also speaking, the Head of Business Development, Siemens Energy, Mr. Oladayo Orolu, explained that the training was part of Siemens’s strategy towards building human capacity development in Nigeria.
“Improving education and vocational training structures are crucial for creating individual prospects and economic growth with sustainable productivity”, adding that Siemens is committed to stimulate the minds of young Nigerian kids towards innovation skills in STEM training.
“We want to expose Nigerian kids to develop a keen interest in STEM education not just to learn employable skills but to enable them develop, innovate and create their own designs which can compete with some of the best in the global world,” Orolu said.