Intel is sponsoring nine Nigerian students drawn from three secondary schools in the country to South Africa to take part in a science fair/competition of all secondary schools in Africa, in a move that validates its mantra of being ‘sponsors of tomorrow’ global technology company
Known as the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, the fair is South Africa’s primary and only existing science fair for secondary school students, where they have an opportunity to exhibit their own scientific investigations and possible inventions.
Nigeria’s representatives are drawn from Calvary Arrows Secondary School Gboko in Benue, Niger Delta Science College, Port Harcourt, Rivers state and the Community Secondary School Aka Ufot in Akwa Ibom state.
To qualify for the competition in South Africa the Nigerian students emerged tops in a National Science fair held earlier in the year in Port Harcourt and jointly sponsored by Intel and Shell Petroleum Developing Company (SPDC).
Some of the scientific investigations being showcased by the Nigerian delegation include the use of cassava extracts for making plastics, which is being showcased by Community Secondary School, Akwa Ibom; Niger Delta Science college Port Harcourt is showcasing its investigation on an automatic multi-phase selector with a generating plant while Calvary Arrows Secondary School is working would display its work on the production of a tri-powered lawn mower
Osagie Ogunbor, corporate affairs manager of Intel Nigeria, said Intel is helping to transform the lives of millions of people through its respective engagements in Education the world over. According to him, this initiative is part of the Intel® Education Initiative.
He said “as a technology company, Intel is committed to collaborating with other organizations, governments and policy-makers to embark on projects that stimulate the interest of Nigerian students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). He said this has become more imperative due to the increasing need for home-grown technology.
Eskom Expo brings together students, teachers, professional organisations and educational bodies and governments from sub Saharan Africa.
Students can enter their own individual projects, or a maximum of three students can work together on a group project. Students may enter one project in one expo per year.
There are 25 different categories in which a project can be accommodated.