Over 400 teachers in secondary schools in the Lagos East Senatorial District on Friday graduated after completing training in modern inquiry based teaching techniques at the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) in Lagos.
The teachers numbering about 50 made it to the SAIL physical class, while 350 attended the on-line class.
They were from both public and private schools selected from all over Lagos East, covering Lagos Education District 2 & 3.
Also, secondary school students who had completed training in physical computing as part of their Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum at the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) graduated.
In his welcome address, Abiru who was elated by the impact the SAIL programmes had on participants, said that he was executing the mandate entrusted to him under three pillars, which according to him are; Legislative Role, Empowerment / Facilitation and Endowment.
The Senator said that the SAIL project which was an initiative of his foundation, Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation was under his endowment pillar.
Abiru said, “I am happy to report that in the last 19 months that I have been given the mandate to represent the people of Lagos East, I have been able to live up to expectations in the roles that I have set up for myself ‘’, adding that ‘the motivation behind this initiative among others is to further fulfil the sacred commitment with the people to deliver dividends and to truly champion programmes, Interventions and services that will improve the socio-economic conditions of our people’’.
Speaking further on graduating participants of the STEM programme, the Senator said, “Today, Secondary school students who are between the ages of 13 and 18 who are graduating have learnt about physical computing using Arduino and coding to develop various solutions to human problems. This is how Asian tigers pulled up and became one of the most technologically developed nations in the world.
In the last 4 months, these kids have been kept busy and creative. The learning process has been most engaging and highly practical. They will be showcasing five (5) unique projects today which they have developed by themselves for the benefits of mankind”.
Abiru, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance and retired bank Chief Executive said that there was an urgent need to develop the interest of teenagers in production of tech-enabled devices, tools and gadgets that can aid the swift development of our industries in Nigeria.
He said, “What we are doing today is preparing these young ones for the opportunity in the future. The jobs and economic opportunities of tomorrow will largely be defined by digital innovation and technology.
“It is interesting to know that some of their colleagues are already working for major corporations in the world while still in schools here in Nigeria. I interfaced with some of these young tech gurus recently in Gbagada at the GenZ Techies Event where SAIL was the Title Sponsor. Young folks numbering almost 1,000 defied heavy downpour to discuss technology and network within their ecosystem.
‘’I met young CEOs in their teens who already have profitable tech businesses and employ dozens of people in the United States and other parts of the country’’.
Abiru disclosed that the skill sets of the teachers have been greatly upscaled with the Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) which is currently being adopted globally for training students creatively, especially with the use of technology to make their teachings more effective and efficient.
Lagos State Commissioner for Education , Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, hailed the unique approach of the Senator to development, saying that technology should be included in the school curriculum.
She added that the SAIL Teachers Fellowship would have a great impact on many generations.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Innovation and Technology, Mr Olatunbosun Alake, commended Senator Abiru for placing a premium on the human capital development, noting that the value of a trained mind can never be estimated.
He urged other elected public office holders to take a cue from the Senator and champion programmes that would have lasting impacts on the lives of the people.
” We need to geometrically multiply what Senator Abiru is doing across the nation”, said Alake.
