There
is no doubt that innovation is the key to unlocking immediate and future
societal growth. There is no field that has done more in terms of innovation
than STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), which has for
centuries driven innovativeness. Smart societies that have consistently
invested in STEM research have continued to record significant growth and
development. This is why STEM jobs are on the rise.
STEM professionals
are some of the best critical thinkers that contribute significantly to solving
societal problems by innovating solutions through scientific discoveries and
technologies. Remember Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, and Thomas Edison? Or
most recently, Bill Gates, the Late Steve Jobs, Oluyinka Olutoye, or Elon Musk?
STEM
research has helped people create technologies that cater for various human
needs. For example, the mobile telephone was created by someone who realized the
need to communicate. This innovation underscores the power of STEM research.
It is
for this reason STEM related jobs are in high demand across the world – they impact
how our lives in the future will unfold and, consequently, drive economic
growth.
According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow by 8%,
a higher rate than non- STEM jobs, between 2017 and 2029.
To
reduce the high level of unemployment in Nigeria, stakeholders have advised the
government and corporate bodies to invest heavily in STEM education to create more
opportunities for the youth and boost job creation.
Stakeholders
believe that if Nigeria must compete globally, she must be deliberate about raising
scientifically literate people.
Against
this backdrop, Interswitch Group, a leading pan-African electronic payment, and
digital commerce company, introduced its pan-African National Science
competition, InterswitchSPAK Switch-a-Future initiative to help enhance the
study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in schools.
InterswitchSPAK
is targeted at inspiring and rewarding secondary school students in the study
of STEM subjects to enhance their potential in a bid to build the next set of
innovators and problem-solvers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Interswitch
recently kicked off the third edition of the InterswitchSPAK competition,
tagged ‘InterswitchSPAK 3.0’. A total of 18,274 science students across the six
geopolitical zones registered for this edition. A total of 17,805 candidates completed the
registration, while 10,502 candidates wrote the exams online across the country.
About
35% of the registrants came from public schools, while 65% of the students were
from private schools. From the first stage of the competition, 15-year-old Alao
Oluwateniola from Divine Step College, Lagos State, had the highest score of
93%, followed closely by 15-year-old Okoro Halimah from Taidob College, Ogun
State, who got the second highest score of 92%.
Overall,
81 students have emerged as finalists to compete for the top three spots and
win scholarship funds worth N12.5 million for tertiary education in the
InterswitchSPAK competition.
The
winner will be rewarded with a five-year scholarship in any tertiary
institution worth N7.5 million, a laptop, a plaque, and monthly stipends. The
first runner-up will also be awarded a three-year scholarship in any tertiary
institution as well as a laptop and a plaque totaling N4 million while the second
runner-up will get one-year scholarship of N1 million, a laptop and a plaque.
The
InterswitchSPAK platform was designed to encourage the study of STEM education
and excellence.
Undoubtedly,
STEM is helping to improve productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the
economy. It is thus important that we leverage it to reduce unemployment in the
country. Most importantly, we must do everything within our capacity to catch
these children young and nurture them to become experts and problem solvers that
will help drive economic growth.
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