A group of non-governmental organisations, PanAfricare, Tech Women and ExonMobil Foundation, have launched the Inclusive and Relevant Education (INSPIRE) project to boost Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Rivers.

The PanAfricare Country Director, Nigeria, Dr Patrick Adah, while speaking at the unveiling, said the aim was to revolutionise the teaching and learning of STEM-based subjects.

Adah noted that the initiative, funded by ExxonMobil Foundation, was in line with the federal government’s vision for STEM education and would prepare students for the job market.

He explained that Rivers was one of the benefiting states for the 14 selected underserved secondary schools across Nigeria, coming on the heels of FCT, Bauchi, Kaduna, Lagos, and Abia.

Adah stated that the project’s primary goal was to enhance the innovative skills of students, empowering them to address challenges and develop practical solutions within their communities.

He highlighted the key objectives to include bridging the resource gap, strengthening teachers’ capacity, increasing access to innovative teaching tools, and expanding students’ exposure to diverse STEM topics.

He expressed gratitude to ExxonMobil for the funding and the Rivers State government for supporting the project’s implementation.

Similarly, Inspire Programme Lead, Tech Women Nigeria, Mrs Damilola Anwo-Ade, while giving the project overview, highlighted the importance of inclusion, adding that the project focuses on empowering teachers and students, including those with disabilities.

Anwo-Ade emphasised the need for intentional efforts to bring technology to schools, citing examples of 3D printers and virtual reality as game-changer formations.

She said the Inspire project had recorded significant progress, with improved ability of teachers to deliver engaging STEM lessons, and students benefiting from interactive learning experiences.

“The project is being implemented in several states, with Rivers being the last stop for training.”

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, expressed gratitude to ExxonMobil Foundation for advancing education and empowering communities through the STEM programme.

Uzoma-Nwogu, who was represented by Director Administration, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board (RSSSB), Dr Janet Amadi, said the 15 trained teachers are expected to return to their schools as ambassadors of innovation, urging them to inspire students’ careers in digital literacy and entrepreneurship.

She also advised principals to ensure that the trained educators teach the students with the technology tools and awaken creativity in them.

Speaking on behalf of the trained teachers, Mrs Worgu Sosoma-Ala of Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School, commended the organisers for advancing education in public schools.

She said the training would inspire students, enhance their understanding, and make learning more engaging for them.

Sosoma-Ala appealed to the government to invest more in STEM education, especially in public schools, to bridge the gap in the sector.