In a bid to address the gaps in the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria, Siemens Energy Nigeria, Siemens Stiftung - a German- based foundation, Empowering Africans Through Education Initiative and The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) partnered to promote this very STEM topic. Experimento - an international approved science program developed by Siemens Stiftung builds the foundation and Bayelsa state is one of the states that benefitted specialized training programs for facilitators and teachers in practical and curriculum-oriented topics in Energy, Health, and Environment were held.

Experimento is a STEM initiative by Siemens Stiftung aimed at revolutionizing students learning experience by empowering STEM teachers with the necessary skills on improving the quality of science lessons to deliver sound education for the benefit of society. The goal of the Experimento  is to use curriculum- aligned science education as a tool for fostering the development of Nigerian youth  and encourage them to think independently and creatively about scientific problems and solutions through practical, hands-on experimentation with locally available materials.

The  long-term benefits of this initiative include the development and growth of scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians needed for economic transformation, especially in the development, industrialization, and diversification of the Nigerian economy.

“Improving science education and vocational training structures is crucial for creating individual prospects and economic growth with sustainable productivity. The training is part of Siemens Energy strategy towards building human development capacity in Nigeria,” Oladayo Orolu, Head of Business Development and Government Relations at Siemens Energy said.

He noted that Siemens Stiftung’s initiative wants to stimulate the minds of young Nigeria kids towards innovative skills in STEM training.

The Experimento project is aimed at helping School pupils develop keen interest in STEM education; not just to learn employable skills but also to develop, innovate and create systems and technologies which can compete with the best in the world,” Orolu told Journalists in Bayelsa state.

Instructional materials were provided to young people which will allow them to think independently, creatively solve scientific problems and solutions while also creating a cooperative learning environment that will make STEM education easier and interactive.

The training which shall be largely practical and hands-on intensive is designed for two weeks and structured in two tranches.

In the first week, Siemens Stiftung and Empowering Africans through Education Initiatives will train 15 facilitators/ multipliers.

In the second week, the facilitators /multipliers will in turn train the 30 teachers nominated by the Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) from 10 primary schools selected from Bayelsa state.

After the training, certificates will be awarded to the facilitators/multipliers and the trained teachers.

Also, 12 Experimento 8 + Kits will be deployed (one to each of the schools and two to the facilitators/multipliers) for further training of teachers.

To ensure the desired impact and value is achieved,  evaluations/ monitoring will be carried out by Empowering Africa through Education Initiative ( EAEI) to see the impact of the program. This will also include evaluating the effects of the training model on the students’ performance and retention abilities.
 

Executive Secretary of NCDMB Simbi Wabote who was represented by Dr. Ama Ikuru, General Manager, Capacity Building Division of the Board said the initiative is in line with the unflinching commitment to attain the objectives and aspirations of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development  NOGICD) Act of 2010 and its 10-year strategic road map.

“We are particularly delighted that this initiative is targeted at primary school teachers, and we thank Siemens Stiftung, Siemens Nigeria, and Empowering Africans through Education Initiatives for the commencement of this pilot phase for the training,” Dr Ikuru said.

Okechukwu Nwabuzor, Local Content Manager, Siemens Energy said the essence of the training is to fill up the knowledge gap in Nigeria’s educational system starting from the foundation.

“The concept is about exposing kids to a lab in a box; The box has over 120 different experiments that frame the kids' minds to hunger for more knowledge and consequently, create an impact in the society they live in,” Nwabuzor said.