U.S. promotes robotics education, trains teachers, students
The United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has held one-week training on robotics in Lagos and Ogun States to promote interest in robotics, Mathematics and the sciences among young Nigerians.
About 460 Nigerians including students, teachers and robotics enthusiasts benefitted from the training which held at the American Corner at Co-Creation Hub (CCHUB), Yaba, Lagos and at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Complex, Abeokuta, Ogun State and was facilitated by the RoboRave International, a U.S.-based robotics education academy.
Speaking at the workshop in Lagos, the Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Darcy Zotter, said it was aimed at sparking interest in science, technology and robotics and career paths in these areas.
“US Government is committed to supporting robotics and STEM education. The aim of the workshop was to spark interest of Nigerians in science, technology, robotics and mathematics as well as a career in those areas.”
She added that some of the participants would get follow-up trainings and other support as part of efforts of the US government to boost Nigeria’s economic growth through technology and innovations.
One of the facilitators and the President, Enhancing STEM Education, US, Russ Fisher, said the not-for-profit organisation wants to use Nigeria as a model to build low-cost robotics in Africa.
“Let’s use Nigeria to change the continent. Nigeria is the fastest growing economy on the continent. It got the highest number of youths on the continent. We want to use Nigeria as a model to build low –cost robotics that can be replicated in Africa.”
Reacting, one of the participants, Racheal Babarinde, a fresh computer science graduate from the Kwame Nkruma University, Ghana, said that the workshop exposed her to a lot of technicalities in coding and building robotics.
“It has enlightened me on how to use motors and sensors to make robotics. It has exposed me a lot on technical experience in coding and building robotics. Now I have hunger to learn robotics.”
A lecturer at the Lagos State University(LASU), Taiwo Philips, noted that though his specialty is Humanities, the training has spurred his interest in artificial intelligence.
According o the US Consulate,100 robots will be donated free-of-charge to participating schools in Lagos and Ogun states, to provide students and their teachers with opportunity to put their skills to use.
