About 60 students of Government College Lagos (GCL), Surulere, Lagos State, who were trained in STEM education for senior secondary school students showcased various innovations they developed on the completion of a nine-week training at the school’s STEM Laboratory.
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Thenewsbearer reports that the STEM Lab was provided and equipped by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation.
The training was facilitated by STEM Café, an initiative of Co-Creation Hub reported as being Nigeria’s leading innovation and technology hub, for SAIL Foundation.
On the Demo and graduation day, the students displayed innovations they built before the co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru; the Chief Impact Officer, Mr. Deji Abisola; the Global President of the Government College Lagos Old Boys Association, Mr. Jibola Bakare; Tutor General/Permanent Secretary for Education District IV, Board Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Dr. Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle; school management members, teachers, parents and top government functionaries.
In his keynote address entitled: “Empowering the Next Generation Through STEM Innovation,” Senator Abiru, an alumnus of Government College Lagos, described the occasion as a demonstration of what becomes possible when stakeholders come together to invest human capital development of young people, particularly in public institutions, as well as private organizations.
“This Demo Day is not just ceremonial; it is a bold statement of what becomes achievable when we nurture curiosity and provide the tools to solve real world problems,” Abiru said.
“Our children are not just learning; they are building, experimenting, and stepping confidently into the future,” he added.
The newly-built STEM lab, located within a legacy block in the school, was retrofitted and fully equipped by SAIL Foundation.
It is part of a broader innovation labs network that includes the iconic SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu, as well as SAIL Innovation and Sports Centre in Orimedu, Ibeju-Lekki, all designed to equip young people with 21st Century digital and tech skills.
Abiru revealed that the initiative aligns with one of the three pillars of his work as a senator, which are endowment, legislative duty and facilitation and Empowerment.
He explained that the STEM programme was designed to prepare young Nigerians for an increasingly digital and innovation-driven global economy.
“We are building platforms that give our children access to knowledge, mentorship, and modern learning spaces. The future belongs to those equipped with scientific literacy and digital competence,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Deji Abisola noted that the STEM Education programme extends beyond the current cohort at GCL.
He said that it is an ongoing initiative hosted at the SAIL Innovation Lab facility in Ikorodu, where students from 10 public secondary schools within its catchment area participate under the SAILors Programme each term.
It was disclosed that when the new school calendar resumes after the long break, the next cohorts at GCL and across all 10 schools would commence.
In her remarks, the Vice Principal of the school, Mrs. Ngozi Eneje, praised the collaborative efforts behind the initiative.
She also lauded the commitment of Senator Abiru and the SAIL Foundation for their strategic investment in the lives of the students.
The Global President, GCLOBA, Mr. Jibola Bakare, expressed profound appreciation to Senator Abiru for his immense contributions to the growth and development of the school.
The event was concluded with a guided tour of the STEM laboratory where guests had a first-hand glimpse of the modern equipment and student-built projects on display.
Other eminent personalities and old boys of the school who witnessed the graduation ceremony included Prof. Bankole Sodipo, SAN, Rear Admiral Leye Jaiyeola (Rtd), Mr. AA Akinajo, Mr. Akin Ogunmowo, and Chief Operating Officer, CcHub, Mr. Timothy Aluko, among others.
