By Felix Shammah
The Federal government has entered in collaboration to boost girl-child development and education through Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Secondary Schools in the rural areas across the country.
In the bid to realize this objective, the Ministry of Science and Technology at the weekend signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Organization for Women in Science for Developing World (OSDW).
At the Ceremony, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the international women body was expected to assist in carrying out sensitization programme on STEM education in rural areas in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Mr. Abdulganiyu Aminu, in a statement on Friday, said Onu further said that Nigeria stood to gain in a Knowledge-based economy if the girl-child education was given tremendous encouragement.
Onu urged the Women Organization to pursue its assignment with diligence and full sense of patriotism. The Minister later presented a cheque of N1 million to the organization to carry out pilot sensitization in two geo-political zones of the country, with a promise to provide more funds for future sensitization efforts.
Onu added that the programme will also analyze required findings, funding gaps and make suggestions on how to boost participation of the girl child in STEM Education.
He assured that the present administration will do everything possible to popularize science education in the nation, adding that no nation can achieve greatness without science and technology education.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu said that the collaboration between the Ministry and the Organization for Women in Science for Developing World will help in popularizing STEM education among girl child in rural areas.
The Zonal Coordinator North of OWSD, Dr. Memuna Habib, said that the body will develop strategy and implementation plan and share it with the Ministry before commencing on the pilot project.
She also promised to bridge the gaps in their pilot programme to ensure overall success of subsequent programs.