By Stephen Adeleye.
The Centre for Atmospheric Research (CAR) has promised to support Government Technical college Kogi with modern laboratory equipment and teaching materials.
Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, Director and Chief Executive of CAR, Anyigba, made the pledge at the ”2019 Girls Astronomy Camp” on Friday at Salem University Lokoja.
Rabiu said that the Centre would also provide trainings to teaching staff of the college.
The DG explained that the camp was aimed at promoting the beauty of science of astronomy to stimulate the interest of school girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
He commended the commissioner for giving a brilliant exposition on how school adoption could work and emphasised the the need for CAR to support the technical school.
“We are not taking over the school but we are adding values to existing school, which could be done either by individuals or groups.
“I have discussed with my senior colleagues, and we have agreed to adopt one of the government technical colleges, to add value to whatever they are doing there.
“We will communicate with the commissioner within the next few days on how to go about this.
“We will be releasing some of our staff to teach alongside the existing teachers in the school, donate modern teaching materials, laboratory equipment, manpower among others,” Rabiu said.
He stressed that the 2019 girls astronomy camp was an exercise aimed at catching the students for STEM while still young, saying, “It promises to be exciting and full of fun at certain times”.
He said that over 200 students from 31 schools have registered and already in the camp to participate in the program.
In her remarks, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya,the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, commended the Centre for organising the camp and for adopting a school, while advising other stakeholders to emulate the gesture.
Osikoya reiterated that the state has adequate potential and intellectual abilities to excel in STEM, but lacked the required facilities such as equipment, infrastructure, manpower among others.
She said that Gov. Yahaya Bello had given approval to establish, upgrade and strengthen 17 additional science and technical colleges to the existing four in the state.
She added that provision had been made in the 2019 budget for each of the 21 local government areas to have technical and vocational school to enable easy access for learners.
She appealed to individuals, groups, organisation, communities and all other stakeholders to also adopt a school.
Prof. Dorcas Oluwade, the Vice Chancellor, Salem University Lokoja, commended the organisers of the program, saying it would help the girl-child to develop interest in STEM.
She urged the girls to be more scientifically focused and embrace science courses such as Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
“At the end of this camp, we hope that our girls would develop interest in astronomy,” Oluwade said.
She promised that the university would give the necessary support within her capacity to school as a way of adoption.
The 2019 Girls Astronomy camp was organised by CAR in collaboration with the Astronomers Without Borders (AWB).
