Oyo State government has commenced a two-day training in Robotics, Coding and Artificial Intelligence for public, private secondary and primary school students across the state.
The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology was in collaboration with Coderina EDTECH, an educational outfit that promotes education for youth and digital literacy, with a focus on robotics, coding and artificial intelligence.
Declaring the training open at the Government College, Apata, Ibadan, commissioner for Education, Prof Salihu Adelabu, said that the initiative was aimed at equipping students with the necessary skills to thrive in a technology-driven world.
He stated that the workshop was a starting point to develop students in various schools in the state in the area of robotics, coding and artificial intelligence.
The commissioner explained that it was important for individuals, particularly those in the teaching profession, to acquire knowledge about the emerging issues, technology and innovation to be able to compete favourably among their peers.
Speaking further at the event that featured the symbolic presentation of donated Robots and First LEGO league challenge kits sets worth millions of Naira to 20 beneficiary schools, Adelabu expressed the readiness of the state government to partner with credible private organisations to develop the education sector of the state.
He noted that the education ministry would continue to consider and include registered private schools in Oyo State in the government’s laudable intervention programmes, saying that students in both the private and public schools deserve equal opportunity.
The board chairman, Coredina EDTECH, Mr Niyi Femi expressed concerns over the inability of individuals to take advantage of technology at their disposal.
He disclosed that the workshop would enable participants to understand how best to make use of the critical materials to be given to them at the end of the workshop to solve problems in their immediate environments, and also prepare them for a mock competition on robotic, and artificial intelligence in Oyo State and national championship.
He lauded the leadership of the Oyo State Ministry of Education for the support and cooperation received till date.
He described the workshop as a platform to close the gap between private and public school students.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Salaudeen Al-ameen, from Oyo State School of Science, Ogbomoso; Olalere Favour, Loyola College, Ibadan and Alaka Balikis, School of Science, Oyo, said their participation was a rare opportunity, saying it would enable them to know more about technology and artificial intelligence in particular.
