Minister unveils FCT-UBEB Centre for science, technology

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has inaugurated FCT-UBEB Centre for Science, Technology and Innovative Training for capacity building and teaching in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as basic agricultural technique.
It was gathered that the project, which was rehabilitated, equipped and donated to FCT-UBEB by Skill ‘G’ Nigeria Limited, is aimed at improving the quality of Basic Education in the Territory.
While inaugurating the project at the Junior Secondary School, Hajj Camp Gwagwalada, the Minister noted that the project would help the Territory to catch up with global trends in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM) education, starting from the basic level.
Aliyu, however, commended Skill ‘G’ for the laudable initiative and for choosing the Federal Capital Territory as one of the states for the pilot project, stressing, that the FCT-UBEB Science and Technology Resource Centre which was domiciled at the JSS Hajj Camp Gwagwalada was identified as appropriate for the pilot scheme.
“It is important to stress here that the Universal Basic Education Commission and the World Bank have been partnering on strategies to inject new ideas into Basic Education Science, Mathematics and Technology in order to strengthen functional education in schools.
“Accordingly, UBEC, the World Bank and Skill ‘G’ Nigeria Limited have agreed that a pilot be conducted in order to provide for “Proof of Concept” that will serve as a guide to both UBEC and World Bank,” she stressed.
In his remarks, the chairman of FCT-UBEB, Dr. Kabir Matazu, said Skill ‘G’ had before now renovates and equipped three science and mathematics laboratories at LEA primary school Kuje, science primary school, Gwagwalada and LEA primary school Bako in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Kwali area councils respectively.
He opined that the impact of the training and supply of the science equipment has raised FCT above other states in the areas of science and technology competition in Nigeria.
He further revealed that FCT UBEB schools have won several laurels at the 22nd National JETS competition that took place in Bariga, Lagos state.
Matazu, therefore, appealed to other donors to support and provide for the educational needs of children in basic education.