SAP’s Push for Technology in Education Continues FLL in Lagos

Annually, 29,000 children in over 80 countries around the world participate in a phenomenon known as the FIRST® LEGO® League.

This year is no different as Nigerian kids get their thinking caps on to learn and compete against their peers around the world.

In the 2015/16 FIRST® LEGO® League TRASH TREKSM Challenge FLL teams explored the fascinating world of trash.  From collection to sorting, to smart production and reuse, there is more to trash than meets the eye.

The championship in Lagos at the Youth Centre Oshodi was a culmination of the intensive work carried out by students from various schools around Lagos (majority from within the Ministry of Education District VI catchment area).

The task was simple; Identify any form of trash and think of how to convert same to treasure.

The championship witnessed different innovations coming from the youngsters; from helicopter made from disused plastic and lollipop sticks to a 3-in-1 mp3 player, torch and fan, to air-conditioner made out of a disused cooler and plastic bottle caps and many more.

It only reaffirms that every problem comes with a solution and as a nation only just needs to dare to think.

The SAP FIRST LEGO League in Lagos was hosted by the Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Education District VI, Alhaja Anifowoshe and had in attendance; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Social Development Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola who was in awe of the great innovations on display.

FLL challenges kids to think like scientists and engineers.

During the TRASH TREK season, teams are expected to build, test, and program an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS® to solve a set of missions in the Robot Game.

They are also given opportunity to choose and solve a real-world question in the Project.

Throughout their experience, teams will operate under FLL’s signature set of Core Values

On the value proposition of the programme, Olajide Ade Ajayi, a support team manager at SAP, who also doubles as the coordinator, FIRST® LEGO® League Nigeria, said, “We are eternally grateful to sponsors such as SAP, NITDA and the LEGO Foundation.University of Abuja, Rivers State University of Science and Technology and MTN for spreading this initiative across Nigeria.

The programme is spreading rapidly as people and organisations are beginning to see the value and how technology can shape and transform teaching. The program combines the pedagogy of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) literacy with that of teaching social values.

He said that it is apparent that kids use technology but they are mostly not creating with technology, this is akin to learning to read but not being able to write.

"With a program like FLL, they engage in a hands-on way of learning by doing, while also learning the key skills of communication and self-expression," Ajayi said.

He added that the objective of this program is to foster an ecosystem of creative natives who are capable of transforming their communities.

"Last year, the kids did amazing things, and this year they have exceeded our expectation," the Coordinator said.

“Although, the FLL is an international competition it funnels down to what kids see around them. The kids in the Western world may see a mobile phone as an e-waste while in Nigeria, kids may see sachets or cans of water littered around as trash. This they can research on how to convert to something useful.

The theme for this year is aptly titled “Trash Trek”, asking kids to look at their surroundings and identify waste, and see how they can convert waste to wealth. Due to population explosion, major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt have to contend with waste management issues some of the projects by teams across these three regions centered around identify  the prevalent wastes and proferring solutions to resolve the issues.  For instance, the team from Great Heights School Abuja found a unique way of converting disused cans to Alum, while Glisten Academy team focussed on turning Styrofoam  to sealant," he explained.

Teaching/Learning of S.T.E.M
Ajayi, a Software Engineer with SAP in Ireland, further emphasized the need for enhanced teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (S.T.E.M) as critical steps to solving several technological challenges facing Africa as a continent.

“Gradually, we will get there. The teaching of technology and sciences is not a sprint, but a marathon. We have to adhere to the basic steps. This year, we witnessed the African Code-Week, a programme championed by SAP and other partners. That kind of program that ran in 18 countries is opening up the space to show that kids need to get different sets of skills. Most jobs in the 21st Century require the adept use of technology.  It is pertinent that we start to impart this knowledge to our youth to prepare them for the future," he added.

According to him, the nation needs to give the kids creative freedom and assurance that upon graduation they can create jobs and not only become mere job seekers.

"We must emphasize hands-on skills. So, as they finish school, they will realise that if the jobs are not there, they can create something. It is about changing the mindset of people," he said.