Connect with us

EDUCATION

Job Creation: InterswitchSPAK As A Viable Tool

Published

on


There is no doubt that innovation is the key to unlocking immediate and future societal growth. There is no field that has done more in terms of innovation than STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), which has for centuries driven innovativeness. Smart societies that have consistently invested in STEM research have continued to record significant growth and development. This is why STEM jobs are on the rise.


STEM professionals are some of the best critical thinkers that contribute significantly to solving societal problems by innovating solutions through scientific discoveries and technologies. Remember Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, and Thomas Edison? Or most recently, Bill Gates, the Late Steve Jobs, Oluyinka Olutoye, or Elon Musk?
STEM research has helped people create technologies that cater for various human needs. For example, the mobile telephone was created by someone who realized the need to communicate. This innovation underscores the power of STEM research.


It is for this reason STEM related jobs are in high demand across the world they impact how our lives in the future will unfold and, consequently, drive economic growth.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow by 8%, a higher rate than non- STEM jobs, between 2017 and 2029.


To reduce the high level of unemployment in Nigeria, stakeholders have advised the government and corporate bodies to invest heavily in STEM education to create more opportunities for the youth and boost job creation.
Stakeholders believe that if Nigeria must compete globally, she must be deliberate about raising scientifically literate people.


Against this backdrop, Interswitch Group, a leading pan-African electronic payment, and digital commerce company, introduced its pan-African National Science competition, InterswitchSPAK Switch-a-Future initiative to help enhance the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in schools.
InterswitchSPAK is targeted at inspiring and rewarding secondary school students in the study of STEM subjects to enhance their potential in a bid to build the next set of innovators and problem-solvers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Interswitch recently kicked off the third edition of the InterswitchSPAK competition, tagged ‘InterswitchSPAK 3.0’. A total of 18,274 science students across the six geopolitical zones registered for this edition. A total of 17,805 candidates completed the registration, while 10,502 candidates wrote the exams online across the country.


About 35% of the registrants came from public schools, while 65% of the students were from private schools. From the first stage of the competition, 15-year-old Alao Oluwateniola from Divine Step College, Lagos State, had the highest score of 93%, followed closely by 15-year-old Okoro Halimah from Taidob College, Ogun State, who got the second highest score of 92%.
Overall, 81 students have emerged as finalists to compete for the top three spots and win scholarship funds worth N12.5 million for tertiary education in the InterswitchSPAK competition.


The winner will be rewarded with a five-year scholarship in any tertiary institution worth N7.5 million, a laptop, a plaque, and monthly stipends. The first runner-up will also be awarded a three-year scholarship in any tertiary institution as well as a laptop and a plaque totaling N4 million while the second runner-up will get one-year scholarship of N1 million, a laptop and a plaque.


The InterswitchSPAK platform was designed to encourage the study of STEM education and excellence.
Undoubtedly, STEM is helping to improve productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the economy. It is thus important that we leverage it to reduce unemployment in the country. Most importantly, we must do everything within our capacity to catch these children young and nurture them to become experts and problem solvers that will help drive economic growth.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

EDUCATION

Engr. Kayode Ojo Felicitates With Teachers, Says, They are Impetus In Nation Building

Published

on

By

A governorship Aspirant under All Progressives Congress APC in Ekiti State Engr. Kayode Ojo greets the teachers on World Teachers Day, describing them as great impetus and steam for the development of any society.

“Teachers’ roles at modelling both children and youths towards nation building cannot be under estimated”, hence the need to always prioritise their welfares. “

Engr. Kayode Ojo made the assertion in a statement issued and made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti on this year’s Teachers Day celebration.

The APC governorship Hopeful described Ekiti Teachers as partners in progress if properly renumerated, especially with prompt salary payment, training, retraining, incentive, motivation, and promotion, among others.

He commended them over their sacrifices to impact positively on the lives of both Students and Youth in the State, despite numerous challenges facing them at discharging their duties due to what he called systematic errors under the present administration in the State.

“Teaching profession needs to be treated with desired respect and dignity because of its foundational roles at developing the society by incurcating both academic and social values on the lives of the People.

The current Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing council, University of Nigeria Nsukka UNN, commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising Teachers Welfares as one of the cardinal policies of his administration, hence the need for various State Governors to compliment and support the president policy.

The industrialist and engineer turned Politician assured teachers in Ekiti State of more conducive atmosphere to operate if voted into power during this month APC governorship primary and 2026 elections in the State.

According to him, teachers in Ekiti will be compensated with incentives, training, prompt payment of salary, and general motivation.

While congratulating all Teachers in Ekiti on this year celebration, Ojo urged them to continue to put in their best to develop the state.

Continue Reading

EDUCATION

Stakeholders confirm Ifako-Ijaiye becoming most educated LG in Lagos

Published

on

By

…As lawmaker distributes educational materials to students

Ifako-Ijaiye has been named one of the most educated local government area of Lagos state by stakeholders in the education sector of Lagos state.This was as the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Temitope Adedeji, distributed thousands of school materials to students of the local government as part of his ‘Back To School Support Initiative’.The event, which took place at Fagba Junior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye, attracted hundreds of schoolchildren, parents, teachers, community leaders, and stakeholders.Items distributed by the lawmaker included 500 school bags, 6,000 exercise books, 10,000 writing materials, 500 mathematical sets, 1,000 pairs of socks, and 500 water bottles.Speaking at the event, Hon. Adewale said the gesture, which is the 5th, was aimed at easing the financial burden of parents while motivating pupils to excel in their studies.Adewale, who distributed GCE and JAMB forms to candidates earlier in the year, said his effort was to complement the unwavering commitment of President Bola Tinubu in the education sector.

“Many people do not understand that service and leadership start from the grassroots. This is one thing that has kept Asiwaju Tinubu formidable over the years. His passion to bring education to children while as governor of Lagos state remains the most effective education strategy in recent times.“Today, we recognize him as the best President Nigeria has had. This is why I also encourage people to do the little that they can. The education of our children cannot be left to the government and parents alone,” he said.Adewale said education remains one of his top priorities as a legislator, describing it as the “bedrock of human and societal development.”He assured the students that as they excel, they would benefit from the free GCE and JAMB forms initiative as well as the scholarship scheme of the Adewale Temitope Adedeji Educational Initiative (ATA-EI).In his remarks, the Lagos Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, said Ifako-Ijaiye has been projected to become one of the most educated local government area in the state.Commending the lawmaker for his investment in education and support for the government, in he urged the beneficiaries to be focused on their studies as a way to encourage the lawmaker to do more.On his part, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, Special Adviser on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, tasked the students to focus on their studies so they could enjoy a brighter future.The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Dr Oyetola Olufunke Idowu, further confirmed that the lawmaker’s support for the government’s education stride saying this had started yielding results in the area looking at examination results of 2023 and 2024.Some of the beneficiaries promised to use the materials judiciously.

Continue Reading

EDUCATION

Tinubu’s Education Policy Will Boost Literacy In Nigeria By 100% – Lawmaker

Published

on

By

By 2031, Nigeria would have achieved 100 percent literacy level across the country, a Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Temitope Adedeji Adewale, has said.

Adewale, who represents Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I at the State House of Assembly, made the assertion after inspecting the screening session for the distribution of his free GCE forms to prospective candidates in Lagos on Saturday.

The lawmaker commended the Federal Government for the various initiatives aimed at pulling the youth off the streets and engaging them in meaningful ventures including education.

He noted that since the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by the President Bola Tinubu administration, more Nigerians are eager for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

“You see, Mr. President is doing everything possible to boost the literacy level in the country. And given the way the government is going, by the end of President Tinubu’s second term in 2031, Nigeria will be boasting a 100 percent literacy rate and this would include resolving the issue of out-of-school kids,” Adewale said.

As at April, 2025, NELFUND said over 500,000 students had applied for loans across Nigeria.

The lawmaker described the figure as encouraging adding that it would help the government with future projections.

“It also gladens the heart that the state governments continue to support the Federal Government with various initiatives. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended the graduation ceremony of 5,300 residents from the Lagos Skill Acquisition Programmes. This means 5,300 residents are off the labour market.

“We are giving out 400 forms this year. We also give out JAMB forms because we know that education remains the strongest tool we can use to change lives and shape the future.

“This programme is part of my promise to ensure no student misses an opportunity because of financial constraints. Our goal remains to make Ifako-Ijaiye the most educated local government in Nigeria by 2031,” he said.

He said that through the Adewale Temitope Educational Initiatives (ATA-EI), he has given out over 8000 free GCE and JAMB forms so far with at least 120 students on scholarships in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“This says a lot about the government’s interest in the youth and, given another term with President Tinubu and our party in power, Nigerians will look back sometime in the future and thank God that we had this chance,” he added.

Continue Reading

Trending

Mega Awareness 2023