Education
NGO Seeks For Partnership In Building Young Talents in Robotics Skill
Mariam Sanni
The Founder of Coderina EDTECH, Olajide Ajayi has emphasized the need for broader stakeholder involvement in building young talent in robotics, coding and digital skills, particularly from the corporate and non -profit sectors, to enhance the program’s impact.
Ajayi said this in an interview with pressmen at the opening ceremony of 2024/2025 First LEGO League Nigeria championship in Robotics held in Abuja .
He explained that the program is aimed at discovering and nurturing young talent in robotics, coding, and digital skills.
According to him, the program was initiated in 2012 and expanded in 2016 through a partnership with the Ministry of Education, has inspired over 10,000 students and influenced educational policies.
He added that the initiative has also motivated students to create their own organizations and tech solutions, highlighting the importance of problem-solving and critical thinking in innovation
“Students are not only learning but also creating solutions to community problems, such as the Emmanuel robot created by Federal Government Girls College. The program has led to the creation of new organizations and companies by participants, and many seek mentoring to scale their solutions globally.
“Critical thinking and the ability to see problems as opportunities for innovation are key to solving challenges.The program encourages participants to think critically and create solutions to real-world problems. Innovation happens when individuals can identify and resolve challenges in their communities.
He identified the Federal Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy, as well as the Ministry of Science and Technology, as key stakeholders, calling for more partnership with the agencies.
He said that increased involvement from these stakeholders would benefit the program and its participants.
Ajayi reiterated that the program aims to continue growing and inspiring more young people to create and innovate with technology.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa who was represented by the Director of Technology and Science Education, Dr MA Olodo during his welcome address at the event, said the the programme is showcasing the outstanding achievement of young minds who have worked tirelessly to design, build and programme robots.
He added that it is also a powerful platform that encourages participants to tackle real-world problems through innovative, teamwork, impact and discovery .
“The competition’s four core elements – Research , Robot Design, Core , Values and the Robot Game – highlight the diverse skills required to excel in the AI – driven World. It is my hope that every team here has not only advanced their technical skills but also cultivated critical life skills such as teamwork , problem- solving and resilience,” he stated.
He urged all stakeholders to support the winners in their journey to represent Nigeria at the International Championship , noting that this will create life changing opportunities for the young innovators.
The competition is among 1000 participants who are young talents and over 40 secondary schools across the country .
Education
JAMB: NASU, ASCSN backs proposed increase in staff feeding allocation
Mariam Sanni
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), labour union, the National Association of Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), have thrown their full weight behind the proposed increase in allocation for staff feeding in the 2025 budget, saying the move is key to improve the level of productivity in the Board.
The unions clarified the rationale behind the N1.1 billion proposed in the 2025 budget for the feeding scheme, countering recent misrepresentations about the figure.
They noted that the plan includes expanding free lunch provision, previously exclusive to the headquarters, to over 2,300 staff across JAMB’s 44 offices nationwide.
Speaking during a health walk organized by JAMB to kickstart its 2025 activities in Abuja at the weekend, NASU JAMB Chapter Chairman, Andrew Onakpa, commended the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for prioritizing staff welfare.
“Efforts by the Registrar to address staff welfare are humane and should not be discouraged,” he said.
While saying improved feeding scheme will enhance the performance of staff, Onakpa said the union pushed for the inclusion of other JAMB offices, adding that they were even part of the negotiations with the vendors, ensuring transparency in the process.
“We have over 2,300 staff in more than 44 offices nationwide. When you calculate the cost of feeding across all working days in a year, the figure is understandably significant. It’s not about mismanagement; it’s about improving welfare,” he said.
He expressed concern over the backlash from the National Assembly during JAMB’s recent budget defence, warning it could jeopardize these initiatives.
Onakpa described the Registrar as “a man of high calibre” and urged him to maintain his commitment to improving staff welfare despite criticism.
On his part, ASCSN JAMB Branch Chairman, Ebenezer Ayalibola, echoed Onakpa’s sentiments, emphasizing that the welfare committee meticulously calculated the feeding budget.
“This includes staff in outstations. If you multiply the agreed amount per staff per day across 12 months, the figure will naturally add up to N1.1 billion. This was a collective decision by the welfare committee, not the Registrar acting alone,” Ayalibola said.
Addressing the N850 million reportedly proposed for fumigation, Ayalibola explained that the figure encompasses all cleaning services, fumigation, and security across JAMB’s offices nationwide.
“As for the fumigation, that money was not for just fumigation alone but along with all cleaning services and security for a year at all our offices nationwide too.
” The aggregate of all the salaries for our contractors who do all the services is what constituted that N850 million.
“These costs include the salaries of contractors providing these essential services,” he clarified.
Ayalibola noted that these welfare measures are part of JAMB’s Condition of Service, which is periodically reviewed and subject to National Assembly approval.
Recall that JAMB had during a budget defence exercise in the National Assembly last week presented a proposal for an increase of staff feeding in 2025 to N1.1 billion.
The cost of the feeding was prompted by rise in cost of meal from N1, 200 per day to N2,200 due to rising food prices as well as the expansion of the scheme to cover 2,300 staff members throughout the working days in 2025.
The cost was projected to be N1.27 billion but JAMB budgeted N1.1 billion for this purpose.
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