Lagos Harps On Harnessing Technology To Drive Societal Change

Lagos State government has adopted the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programme to promote education and skills acquisition in science, to drive societal change.

Marking the second edition of the Innovate Eko STEAM Day at the Government College, Lagos, Eric-Moore, Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, held a sensitisation exercise aimed at promoting and integrating creativity and critical thinking into STEAM education.

Speaking at the event, the state’s commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, highlighted the importance of collaboration, accessibility, career guidance, and educator support in harnessing technology to drive societal change and equip students with problem-solving skills.

“Our focus in Lagos State is on having science-oriented students. In the past three years, we have prioritized recruiting science-oriented teachers because we believe that the future starts from now.” Alli-Balogun stressed.

He disclosed that the state is not just ensuring improvement in teaching and learning outcomes, but is committed to nurturing students who are confident, courageous, and who can define their career paths while still in school.

Recounting the state’s achievements in STEAM education, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, disclosed that the ministry has witnessed a 25% increase in enrollment of STEAM subjects in participating schools.

She revealed that Lagos State has dominated in STEAM education nationally, with its students winning top spots in the National Engineers and Scientists Competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education.

She disclosed that in the 2024 High State Assessment, 70 percent of tracked primary school girls scored 70 percent or above in STEAM-related subjects.

“This is a testament to our success in dismantling barriers and engaging our young girls as future scientists and engineers”, she stressed.

Mrs. Dokunmu-Adegbite disclosed further that since 2021, Lagos State has successfully developed over a hundred students’ innovations, including prototypes for green energy and AI-driven tools. She added that about 30% of these innovations had advanced to the patent stage through dedicated funding from the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council.

She noted that these researches are not just statistics but a proof that the youth are prepared for global issues, from climate change to digital development.