US Consulate Trains 50 Lagos Teachers in STEM Methods

Fifty teachers from the Lagos State Education District One have completed a five-day STEM training workshop tagged “Global Air Drone Challenge for Teachers.”

The teacher capacity building workshop led by instructors from U.S.-headquartered Global Air Drone Academy was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate General in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education.

Throughout the five-day training, the teachers drawn from public schools in underserved communities of Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye were introduced to basics of building and flying drones, computer coding, solar panel assembly, as well as various aspects of implementing an integrated approach to teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the classroom.

Speaking at the grand finale of the workshop held at the Government Senior College Agege, U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Stephen Ibelli explained that the workshop was aimed at offering innovative tools for teachers from public high schools to teach STEM subjects and better prepare Nigerian youth for 21st century challenges.

Ibelli underscored the importance of STEM education to Nigeria’s future prosperity and economic competitiveness.

According to him, developing tech skills can place students on a track to future careers in computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence, preparing them to solve real life problems with more creativity, critical thinking and effectiveness.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is committed to supporting initiatives that promotes STEM education in Nigeria.

“Technological knowledge is an essential element of the 21st-century economy, and it starts in the classroom.

“This teacher training workshop will boost teacher confidence and capabilities in the areas of STEM teaching and learning,” Ibelli noted.