Ogun Commissioner Advises JETS Students To Replicate Innovative Skills In Schools

ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – Students who are participating in the Junior Engineers Technicians and Scientist (JETS) competition have been advised to replicate their discoveries and innovative skills for the development of schools and benefit of the society at large.

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, gave the advice during the State 27th Edition of the competition in Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, with the theme: “Integrated Technologies for Sustainable Food Production and Security”, saying the competition was not only about what was presented, but what they had discovered in the practice.

Prof. Arigbabu stated that some of the innovations involved technology, which could help to tackle security challenges, agriculture, irrigation farming system, solar power generation, backyard farming, alarm system, among others, enjoining the young innovators to also collaborate on research and development, to provide solution to local challenges.

The Commissioner, in a statement signed by Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan, Press Officer, MOES&T, reiterated that the ministry had made Agriculture and Woodwork compulsory subjects in all schools across the state, to help in achieving food security, promote carpentry work, enhance Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, assuring that the state would continue to provide resources for innovation hubs, facilitate partnership with private sector stakeholders, as well as supporting agricultural entrepreneurship.

In her remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko said it was essential to integrate the technology advancement with sustainable practices in equipping learners with necessary skills and knowledge, noting that these would prepare and empower them to be positive change makers in their communities.

Earlier in her address, Director of Education, Department of Science and Technology, Mrs. .Abosede Edun, said the competition was centered at addressing the need to leverage technology, enhance crop yields, recycle waste, promote sustainable agriculture and ensure food security, adding that young minds would be empowered with skills and knowledge required to develop innovative solutions for sustainable food production.

In another development, the Commissioner while playing host to delegates of an Islamic group, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, recently, revealed that the government was repositioning the eight Vocational Centres across the state to be more conducive and to ensure that each centre focus on a peculiar skill.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, who doubles as the Chairman, International Ahmadi Architects and Engineers Association (IAAAE), Engr. Mufadhi Bankole commended the Ministry on its laudable initiatives and landmark achievements in the education sector, seeking partnership with the ministry to engage the unemployed on vocational training.