NAN-H-59
Laboratories
By Constance Athekame
Abuja , March 7, 2018 (NAN) Dr Wunmi Hassan, the Chief Executive Officer, Hi-tech Centre for Women and Youth has appealed to government at all levels to build laboratories in schools to encourage more students to embrace science subjects.
Hassan made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summit tagged: “NigFiSTEM’’.
“NGOs in the country are calling on government and government agencies responsible for the funding of the education sector to come on board and look at how science laboratories can be built in all public secondary schools.
“A lot of times, we pay lip service to challenges in the education sector, all these children will compete with other children abroad, so we are begging them to do something about the issue of laboratories urgently.’’
Hassan said NGOs were working together to identify the challenges faced in schools to help bridge the gap created by lack of science laboratories.
She also urged government to build science laboratories facilities within communities, not only in schools.
“I am sure Nigeria is rich and it can put laboratories in all schools, in case we cannot identify the schools, we can put the facility in a central place where students can access.
“We have children who are eager to learn and produce, they need a lab to do that and well equipped labs that are functioning.
“They have science teachers who want to work but they don’t have anything to work with and is not a good thing.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to government as we celebrate women’s week, please think about the things that will build us up and help our girls to be developed and well equipped to face the future.’’
She said the summit was part of the celebration of International Women Day held annually on March 8 for women and young girls to brainstorm over their challenges including technology.
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, nationality, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political interests. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf