By; Imrana Abdullahi
Tracereporters –Prof. Musa Garba Maitfasir, Director/Chief Executive, National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) Kaduna, says Science and Technology education is key to the restoration of the lost glory of Africa.
He spoke on Tuesday in Kaduna at the 21st Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (COMSTEDA 21).
The event also included the Annual Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) Africa Delegates Meeting also hosted by the Institute.
The conference had as its theme, ”Empowering The Next Generation Through Innovative STEM Education’.
Maitafsir stressed the need for the African countries to have a rethink and produce whatever the citizens required to be at par with the international community.
Maitafsir said,”For instance, some decades ago, we were covered with what we were producing in Africa nut it is no longer like that now.
”Now, if you remove China from all of us, we will be naked. So, we are not moving forward, we are not stagnating but moving backward.
”Therefore, science and technology education is the key solution if we must urgently restore that lost glory and the earlier we do this, the better for the continent.”
The NTI Director/Chief Executive further said that the only way for Africa was emphasising on SMASE, adding,”at NTI, we are fully committed to making this happen.”
The President of SMASE Africa and Director, National Science Centre, Zambia, Dr Benson Banda, lamented that Africa was both ‘rich and poor’.
Banda said that the continent has been divinely blessed with abundant natural and natural resources that could only be harnessed with the deployment of science and technology.
He uged, ”So, STEM should be high on the education agenda of Africa. NTI must therefore be commended for pioneering this conference.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, science and technology education holds the future of every Nigerian and African child.
Bamali also called for the cautious application of Artificial Intelligence, saying, ” it is a double-edged sword. It has both advantages and disadvantages.”
Declaring open the conference, Gov. Uba Sani said that his administration accords top priority to STEM, adding,”education is also accorded pivotal focus.”
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sani Bello, the Governor added that top attention was accorded to the sector in both budget and the implementation of the relevant policies.
The confab that holds from Sept.10 to 12 is being attended by participants and delegates from Nigeria and across Africa.
