7 Nigerian students to fly country’s flag at first global robot Olympics

Those who think that Nigeria does not have
what it takes for global competitiveness in the
knowledge economy should better have a
rethink.
TeamNigeria for Global First Robot Olympics:
From left: Ayomide Adetunji, Oluwateisimi
Adegbamigbe, Umar Ayodeji Fahad, Omotaye
Oluwaseun, Toluwase Agoro, Tawakalitu Giwa
and Adeniji Talabi shortly after their robotic
technology at the weekend in Lagos ahead of
their global showcase this summer in United
States of America. Photo; By Emeka Aginam
With the innovative skills shown by the
talented Nigerian students, there are positive
signals that the country will not left out in the
21st century knowledge society.
Just this summer, no fewer than seven
students from both public and private schools
will showcase their creative skills at the First
Global Robot Challenges slated to hold in
Washington, the United States of America with
149 other nations.
The students who are presently based in a
tech studio, according to the promoters, were
picked from different schools in Lagos. Many
of them, it was learnt, have represented
Nigeria in similar competitions in the past.
Founded by philanthropic inventor, Dean
Kamen to inspire a passion for science and
technology leadership and innovation among
the world’s more than two billion youths, First
Global provides the framework for an
Olympics-style robotics event that drives home
the importance of obtaining the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics
(STEM) skills needed by future leaders to
overcome the greatest challenges facing our
world today and tomorrow.
“By engaging the students of the world in a
collaborative competition to help solve the
world’s most pressing problems, FIRST Global
inspires students to learn the skills they will
need to make the discoveries their parents
and grandparents would consider miracles,
fantasies, or just plain science fiction,” FIRST
Global Founder Dean Kamen, said.
For the national coordinator of the programme
in Nigeria, Mrs. Remi Willoughby, who
addressed Technology Journalists at the
weekend, “We need to fully address the
evident deficit in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics in our
educational system. Research has shown that
children will rather take courses in arts and
commercial subjects than these ones.
Unfortunately this is not helping us. The
government needs to find a way to encourage
more students to take these courses in the
secondary and tertiary institutions.”
“We have gathered some of the best students
in robotics to represent Nigeria in Washington.
These students were picked based on their
interest and performances in past
competitions in Nigeria and internationally. We
look forward to an exciting outing.”, Willoughby
added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Aramex
Nigeria and co-sponsor of the First Global
project in Nigeria, Faisal Jarmakani described
the opportunity as “timely”.
According to him, “Nigeria needs to find its
place on the global map of technology in
developing countries. Without any doubt this
competition will dictate the future of
technology advancement and we are seeing it
happen in our very own eyes.”
He hinted that the decision to co-sponsor, with
his brother Omar Jarmakani, is based on the
need to encourage the youth to embrace
technology and robotics. “This will further
ignite their passion and bolster their skills –
emboldening them to become mentors,
advocates and professionals in the area of
stem in Nigeria.”
According to Emeritus Professor of Physiology
at the College of Medicine of the University of
Lagos Soga Sofola, also a national coordinator
of the First Global Olympics, the students have
been spending time together since January,
trying to master the rudiments of Robots
design through tutorials in maths, physics and
engineering including programming especially
using Java, carried out by competent
instructors.
They have also started building their robots
since the arrival of the components, a couple
of weeks ago, he said.