Kunle Adelabu
It was creativity, innovation, and the transformative power of STEM education at its best as participants of Cohort 2 at the SAIL Innovation Lab, Ikorodu, displayed what they are capable of doing with technological knowledge.
Young but talented graduants of the tech centre awed the initiator and sponsor of the facility, Senator Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru, SAIL faculty members, parents and guests at their graduation ceremony on Saturday, as they showcased projects that are capable of addressing many challenges confronting the country.
30 outstanding Senior Secondary School(SSS) students graduated from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Cohort 2, at the SAIL Innovation Lab.
The acquisition of STEM knowledge, which is a specialised training that is often beyond the means of many kids from average and low income homes, has been made possible by the representative of the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Abiru, his wife and the Trustees of SAIL Empowerment Foundation.
Explaining the concept behind the program, Mrs Temitope Falodun, Programme Officer, STEM Café, said that the program was conceived to benefit students in secondary schools and expose them to developing capacity to develop programs.
“This is a fellowship programme for secondary students designed to engage them in physical computing and embedded systems. The program is aimed at impacting kids between ages of 13 and 20, and a very impacting one”, she said.
“They were exposed to the world of electronics, circulatory and others, to make them develop internet optics projects that enabled them worked on home security systems, farm security alerts and many others. They are able to learn the technology behind circuitry boards which can put on programs to build their programs”.
She said that the program exposed participants to work and develop technologically enabled projects that addresse many challenges confronting the country, adding that their projects will proceed to the incubation stage if they are implementable.
The first presentation by the curious minds, was a project on ‘Farm Security’, which the group said is crucial to addressing the present day challenges facing farming and farmers in Nigeria. The system will solve issues like theft, kidnapping and other invasions on farms by triggering an alarm on the farm owner’s phone once there is an encroachment.
Group two project was on ‘Automated Home Control System’, which the young inventors said will make it easy for managing home – appliances by switching power on and off once the owner of the house enters or leaves the house.
It was said that the device will not only minimize energy consumption, but also safe cost and provide security.
The Creatives, who are in group three, presented their project on ‘Smart Irrigation System’. The project uses weather and soil moisture to determine the irrigation needed in a particular farm. The group added that the device will aid and assist farmers in maximizing produce on their farms.
Another presentation that blew the audience away was the ‘Wind Generated Electricity’, presented by The Achievers who constituted group four. It was an idea which brought about sustainable energy from the wind and which did not get depleted.
The idea, according to the group, is the answer to the challenging power sources that have a negative effect on global warming.
Group five (Trailblazers) initiated what is called, ‘Aquaphonics’ which is another project which tends to address many challenges confronting farmers and agriculture in the country.
Aquaponics is an integrated system of food production which combines aquaculture, i.e. cultivation of fishes with hydroponics which is the cultivation of plants in nutrient water without soil.
It was said that the project was conceived to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aimed at making food available.
Senator Abiru, commending the students for their projects, added that the graduating class has proffered solutions to many challenges that are adversely affecting many sectors in the country.
“Listening to the students made me see solutions to the myriad of problems that we have in the country like food insecurity, water and others. The solutions that we are looking for in this country, are in our hands and in your hands”, he said.
“Thank you very much for that wonderful presentations. I congratulate the brilliant students that are graduating from the STEM Program COLT 2 at the SAIL Innovation Lab. I stand before you today to celebrate your remarkable achievement that we have seen.
Stating how far the SAIL Lab has gone since the beginning of the training from his constituency office to the new facility, Abiru participants were trained in skills and developed their capacity that they can develop themselves and confront any challenges.
“The progress made by Cohort 2, since its inception in late 2022, from the constituency office of the Lagos East Senatorial District to this new purpose-built facility, is a testament to our resilience and determination as we celebrate the graduation of the 30 outstanding students”, Sen. Abiru said.
“Throughout their period of study, these students have learned essential skills in academic and technical knowledge. They have learned to think critically, embrace failure as an opportunity for growth, and collaborated to solve problems that they see in society.
“In addition to their academic achievements, it is noteworthy that the students have also delved into the exciting realms of physical computing, robotics and artificial intelligence. I had the privilege of witnessing some of their projects displayed at this event. These projects showcased their creativity, innovation and the transformative power of STEM education”.
He charged the graduating students to see the completion of the programme as the beginning of the development, and charged them on the need for further development by enrolling for other programmes offered by the facility.
“To the graduating class, this is just the starting point. You are young minds, and you just have to open your minds to continuous education and training”, he said.
“You have just concluded the STEM, and you know that we have other categories of programs Tech Talent, Data Science that are coming up, and I need you guys to take up the opportunity. Just like the way that you came in here, it is competitive. It is a life – long – learning process for you. I need you to embrace that.
“As you step into the next chapter of your life, remember that the paths ahead may not always be easy, there will be setbacks, self – doubts and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In those moments, draw strength from the knowledge that you already have and of course, the resilience and the tenacity to preserve. Embrace failures as opportunities and see obstacles as stepping stones.
“Let us all celebrate the significance of this milestone in the lives of our young minds. Their hard work, dedication and unwavering passion. The community and the country eagerly await your contributions”, he said.
In his keynote address, Mr Johnson Abbaly, Founder, Smartan House, charged the students on the need to be inspired by the contributions of great men and women in Lagos East Senatorial District and Ikorodu, to make their own marks.
“You are in very good company because in this Senatorial District, you have the big names that you can think of, that have come out of this place”, he said.
“It is always good to know that incredible people have gone ahead of you. That tells you that you are in the long lines of history markers and I know that you are going to make history of your own.
“You must always pay attention to details. Company pays millions of naira to put their products on the billboards to capture attention. All the things that they do on the media are to get your attention.
“So, your attention is your primary focus. When you sit in class, pay attention”.
The keynote speaker also asked members of the graduating class to develop themselves more and be prepared to use their knowledge of technology in contributing their quota to the development of Ikorodu.
He also charged them to see opportunities that await them with water that surrounds Ikorodu, Rice Mill at Imota and the massive land for agriculture.
“This is the vision and that’s why we have SAIL, to identify smart kids like you across the length and breadth of this Senatorial District. We are confident that you have the necessary tools that you need”, he said.
Arit Abatan, Ogundiyan Gideon and Testimony Abator Anger members of the Cohort 2, thanked Senator Abiru and SAIL faculty members, for the life opportunity given to them to acquire STEM training.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony were: Dr. (Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Special Adviser to the Senator on Constituency Matters, Mr Deji Abisola, Consultant to the Senator on SAIL Innovation Lab, Hon Abdulateef Rotimi Abiru, Prof Surajudeen O. Mudasiru, a professor of Political Science at the Lagos State University, LASU and Dr. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, a senior lecturer, Department of Political Science, LASU.
