By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Executive Director of Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative (WDSFAI), Nafisat Bakare, has called on the federal and state governments to increase investment in STEM education and digital skills for Nigerian youths.

She highlighted that equipping young people with essential skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is crucial to addressing the country’s challenges of unemployment and poverty, adding that such investment would shape Nigeria’s future workforce and entrepreneurial landscape.

Bakare made the call during the opening of the 2024 Kwara STEM Funfest, themed “Innovate Green: STEM Paths to a Sustainable World,” held at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin, the state capital.

The event, hosted by her organisation, attracted over 1,200 participants, including students, teachers, parents, and industry experts from across Kwara State.

She disclosed that Kwara STEM Funfest, an annual event organised by her organisation, aims to ignite young people’s passion for STEM, nurture their dreams, discover talents, and spark creativity.

According to Bakare, the theme of this year’s edition reflected her organisation’s commitment to fostering not only technological advancement but also sustainability and environmental consciousness.

“As we face global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation, the role of STEM in creating innovative, sustainable solutions has never been more important. Through this event, we hope to inspire young minds to see how STEM can be a powerful tool for creating a better, more sustainable future,” she noted.

In his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, emphasised the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainability.

Represented by Dr. Abdulwaheed Musa, a lecturer at Kwara State University (KWASU), Professor Aibinu discussed AI’s applications across sectors such as agriculture, energy management, environmental conservation, and healthcare. He also urged the government and policymakers to leverage the potential of AI to drive sustainable development in Nigeria.

The 2024 Kwara STEM Funfest featured a variety of activities, including hands-on workshops, panel sessions, exhibitions, and a debate competition among secondary school students. The highlight of the event was the presentation of prizes to the debate winners.

Eshiet Esther Samuel of Mollys School, Ilorin, emerged as the winner of the debate competition, receiving a cash prize of N150,000. Ojukurolola Ooreofe of Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Ilorin, and Ahmed Nana-Aisha of Flora Schools, Ilorin, finished as the first and second runners-up, receiving N100,000 and N50,000, respectively. All three winners also received laptops, courtesy of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

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