The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Science

  • ‘Science education should start early’

    ‘Science education should start early’

    Early exposure of pupils to science and technology education and capacity building of science teachers are needed if Nigeria is to join the league of technologically-developed nations, says Group General Manager, Public and Government Affairs, Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Mr. Paul Arinze.

    Speaking at the close of the 19th MPN/NNPC STAN National Science Quiz/Project competition hosted by Asaba, the Delta State capital, as part of the 55th Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) conference, Arinze said the government must institute a policy in this regard to stimulate interest in Science, Technology, and Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

    He said: “In order for Nigeria to join the league of technologically advanced and economically prosperous nations, deploying creativity in technology is essential, and science education will play a crucial role in fulfilling this objective.

    “Concerted efforts and policy must be put in place to not only ensure that pupils are introduced to science subjects early, but also that a greater encouragement system is instituted to identify and reward pupils showing exceptional abilities in science subjects.

    “Teaching aids and other infrastructural support must also be provided to encourage pupils while science teachers must show greater commitment to their duties. Relevant authorities should also make science teachers’ capacity development a priority.”

    Arinze’s recommendations tallied with the concerns expressed by Prof Peter Okebukola, Director, STAN Quiz Bureau, and Mr. Emmanuel Ekoluwo, a Mathematics teacher at the Delta Steel Company Model School, Aladja, Delta State.

    Okebukola said this year, the contestants did not display the level of confidence usually noticed in the final of the competition. He attributed it to the process used to select the contestants.

    “Last year, it was most exemplary. It was quite heart-warming that our pupils could do so well because there were some questions that came out that many teachers could not answer within the time-frame.

    “This year, I could not see that lustre and that shine. A few things could be accountable for this observation. It could be that the process leading to the winners at the state level to come to the national level was weak. I guess they did not use the best mechanism to get the best pupils to come for the finals. I know there are many pupils at the state level who are sharper than those presented for this year’s competition are.”

    On his part, Ekoluwo, whose school has won the primary school category of the quiz competition in the last five years, faulted the government for not investing in the pupils and teachers as recommended by Arinze.

    “For some years, the school has won this competition, yet it has not received any recognition from the state government. It has also not received any sponsorship. There has also not been any acknowledgment for us the science teachers that have taken these pupils to this level. This is not encouraging,” he said.

    This notwithstanding, the competition was not without its usual thrills. The duo of Adarerhi Erere Gloria and Enameguono Aroesiri of the D.S.C Model Nursery and Primary Schools, won the Primary School category trophy for Delta State with 118.25 points. The teams from Imo State (111), Benue (98) and Osun (96.75) were the runners up.

    In the secondary school category, Imo State lifted the trophy with the help of Adolalom Obinna of Living Word Academy, Nkwerre and Ononiwa Benjamin of Alavana Model Secondary School, Owerri.  They edged out Akwa-Ibom (111) with just one point. Enugu scored 110 points to emerge third, while Ondo came fourth with 107 points.

    Gloria Adarerhi, one of the primary school category winners, said her team was inspired to win because Delta State hosted the competition.

    “My school authorities did not force us to read for the competition, but we made up our minds to come tops because the competition was hosted in our state and you cannot lose in your own state. We had to take first,” she said.

    For 17-year-old Benjamin Ononiwa, winning the secondary school category trophy for Imo was a dream come true, especially as he  failed to do so at the primary level six years ago.

    “This is a dream come true. I have always been hopeful and optimistic about my chances. I thank God for making it possible,” said Ononiwa who hopes to study Mathematical Physics in the university because of his passion for mathematics.

    Cash and gift prizes were also awarded to contestants in individual subjects, science projects, and teachers’ projects, courtesy of MPN/NNPC which has sponsored the competition for 19 years.

    The five-day STAN conference attended by about 1,000 participants  featured lectures, workshops for teachers, and conferment of fellowships on deserving science teachers.

    Six teachers conferred with the STAN fellowship were: Ayodele Akande, Arinola Akinsete, Ezekiel David, Prof. Elizabeth Gyuru, Dr. Adebola Ifamuyiwa and Dr Muilimi Olayiwola.

  • Exploring opportunities in information science

    The University of Ibadan (UI) has admitted Master’s students for the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS) programme. The students were taken through an orientation last week, reports STANLEY IBEKU.

    They came from various disciplines – science, medicine, agriculture, engineering and others – but their mission is one: to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills in information science needed for the information age.

    This is the aim of the new Master’s students of the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS) at the University of Ibadan (UI).

    They were welcomed into the Centre last week at an orientation.

    The Director of the Centre, Dr Wole Olatokun, told them that their admission was a golden opportunity to improve their knowledge in Information Science.

    He described the Centre as a sea where people come with different types of container to take water. Some will come with bottles, Olatokun said, while some will take drums, depending on their need.

    The don admonished the students to use the opportunity to broaden their knowledge base, noting that the students are privileged to be admitted from thousands of candidates, who applied to the Centre. He revealed that one of the successful students had been applying to the Centre since 10 years ago.

    T56+he Centre’s immediate past Director, Prof Muta Tiamiyu, urged the students to take advantage of the rapid developments in the Information Technology world. He decried a situation in which young people fail to learn trends in technologies, saying young people must not be reluctant to acquire skills that would help their career. He said the course outline was thorough, adding that students needed to show seriousness towards their studies.

    President of the Africa Regional Centre for Information Science Students’ Association (ARCISSTA), Towo Adeyemi, enjoined the freshers to pay attention to instructions from both academic and non-academic staff.

    Other lecturers at the Centre took turns to advise and enlighten the students in the areas of registration, students’ welfare, examination and result computation. Also, the students were enlightened on the use of the library and the Information Technology laboratory.

    The event afforded the students the opportunity to ask questions affecting them especially on academics. But it was not all talks, as the students took the dance floor after the orientation. Also there were photo sessions.

    Other officials present at the event included the Acting Postgraduate Coordinator, Dr Funmilayo Omotayo, Results Officer, Dr Adeola Opesade, Registration/Welfare officials, Mrs Folake Longe and Dr Janet Adekanbi, and Examinations Officer, Ms Kemi Ogunsola.

    Some of the students spoke on why they chose to take their Master’s in information science.

    Believe Gbaruko said he had always wanted to be an engineer in Information Technology (IT) to make meaningful impact in the sector. According to him, he is interested in computer applications and he is hopeful that the degree would develop his abilities.

    Also, Oluwafemi Egbodofo, said he was fulfilled being admission into ARCIS, saying: “It is a place I am meant to be. I love computer and IT; I have always been engulfed in things related to them. I chose ARCIS because of the centre’s reputation in the training of information professionals. I have always wanted a discipline that would spur me to do great things and I believe ARCIS would meet my expectations.”

    Kunle Adekoya hopes to explore opportunities in information science and he is confident that his expectations would be met.

    ARCIS was established in November 1990 as a Master’s degree programme with the aims to give students a broad knowledge in the foundations of information science and technology. It seeks to equip graduates with relevant skills in the development and management of information systems.

  • Science in Africa will bring Africa out of poverty, by and by

    Science in Africa will bring Africa out of poverty, by and by

    Many young Nigerians, indeed Africans, are possibly looking forward to getting a university degree, getting a job and rising to the top fast (contribution or no contribution), building a house or houses, buying cars in the blinking of an eye, and being able to do whatever they want in life because they have money for it.  This kind of ambition may not be bad in itself but it is a nation killer.

    Having worked for more than a decade in advanced countries as a scientist, I am confident that unless our young people are trained to become transformative professionals in the use of science and technology, the efforts towards development are largely unsustainable.

    Research and development are like two sides of a coin we can use to acquire lasting civilization. Nigeria, a giant in Africa, presently has about 130 universities and a great potential for transformation of raw materials and human resources towards provision of goods and services.  I sometimes feel ashamed when every time Africans need something scientific or technical, we go begging advanced countries because I know the only thing that makes them advanced is the effort (mental  and physical) that they apply at their jobs and services.

    Come Ebola outbreak, we are waiting for hard working America to give us serum, vaccines, drugs, or whatever they can quickly develop while we have about 130 universities.  I do not blame young Nigerians for not being interested in science if a Nigerian scientist does not present a cure for Ebola and get a pat on the back from the whole world and money in his pocket for the rest of his life.

    For Africans to enjoy more health and well-being and sustainable development, we need to be more and more scientific in reasoning and in functioning.Every time I go to an advanced country, I enjoy buying fruits and vegetables because they come in ample variety and with healthy, attractive presentation. As a scientist, I know a lot of scientific work goes into this at various levels of the chain of production and distribution. Whenever I buy a medication in Nigeria, I look at where it is made: India, Israel, UK, USA, etc., and yet Nigeria may have more potential for petrochemicals than all these countries.  Unless Nigerians apply themselves scientifically, they cannot be productive in such goods.  Undeveloped industries certainly are a great part of unemployment, poverty, and disease in Africa.

    In a capitalist country, or in a humane country, or in an advanced country, if they had the Ebola outbreak being experienced in West Africa, perhaps microbiologists, virologists, pathologists, pharmacologists, biochemists,biomedical scientists, physician scientists,pharmaceutical scientists, would beallhands on deck in desperate research by now, looking at the Ebola problem from top to bottom and front to back and inside to outside and past to present. In fact Ebola would have been brought to shame, stark naked. Instead what do we have?  We have fear and panic and 130 universities.

    The Ebola problem can be seen as a wake-up call to improve research capacities and activities in Nigerian and other African universities. Whether for some particular needs or for philosophical curiosity, our universities should be taking pride in state-of-the-arts research in all fields of science.  No academic staff should be wasted while Africans groan in poverty and continue in poverty.  Africa is well-known for poverty and diseased but really, if we look closely, there is no mystery in African poverty and disease but, surely, there is misery is in African Science.

    A gossip that struck me recently is that well-wishers of President Jonathan gave gifts galore for his daughter’s wedding including 69 sparkling cars.  I love their kindness and goodwill towards the president but please, rich Nigerians, support science and university researchers.  Give endowments, donate equipment, initiate grants and funding for scientists, sponsor projects, encourage youths to become scientific researchers, give scholarships and awards, sponsor scientific conferences, workshops, and training, encourage professors, and promote global interactions in tertiary education and research.  Thinking science is thinking nation building. Without science, can we throw poverty, disease, and backwardness out of our window? It takes time and continuous effort to reap from science, therefore, investment in scientific research infrastructure, functions, and administrations should also be continuous and not dependent on academic strikes or epidemics. Nation building needs science, a lot of science.

     

    Dr. ‘Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA.   For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

  • Science wins VC Cup

    The Faculty of Science, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, has been crowned champions of the seventh edition of the Vice Chancellor’s Cup for the 2014/14 academic session, after defeating the Faculty of Social and Management Science 2 – 0 on penalties in the final match.

    The grand finale, which was decided on Tuesday July 22 at the institution’s Sports Complex, went into penalty shoot-outs after 90 minutes of exciting football.

    The goalkeeper, Andy, took centre stage for the NASS team in the shoot-outs by saving for penalties as his teammates converted two out of four spot-kicks.

  • Science behind surviving under water for three days

    Science behind surviving under water for three days

    How did a man trapped in the depths of the sea survive for three days in conditions that surely should have killed him? It turns out that an air bubble was Harrison Okene’s saviour, reports National Geographic.

    The Nigerian man had been lost at sea after his tugboat, the AHT Jascon-4, suddenly capsized and sank 100 feet below the surface of the ocean. Harrison Okene, a cook, was trapped in a four-foot bathroom with no way to signal for help, no food, no water—nothing, for three long days.

    His miraculous survival was filmed six months ago by rescuing divers who had come to collect bodies and instead saw Okene’s desperate, outreached hand seeking help. This week, the video has gone viral, bringing international attention to the power of an air bubble.

    So how’d that bubble last so long?

    Eric Hexdall, a nurse and clinical director of diving medicine at the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology, estimates that in an area of about 13.5 cubic meters—roughly the size of the air bubble Okene was trapped in—a person has about 56 hours before carbon dioxide toxicity sets in.

    “If you’re trapped in something like that, your carbon dioxide levels will build to a toxic level before you use up the oxygen,” Hexdall said, emphasizing that carbon dioxide would be the first problem Okene would have faced, before running out of oxygen.

    In addition to Okene creating more trapped carbon dioxide in the course of normal breathing, there is more carbon dioxide under water than on land.

    Hexdall said that there are stages of deep sea carbon dioxide toxicity.

    “At 50,000 parts per million (of carbon dioxide particles), you see measurable signs of toxicity,” Hexdall said, referring to a “buzz” or “high” a person would experience. “At 70,000 parts per million, you lose consciousness pretty rapidly.”

    Hexdall estimates that Okene began to experience the first symptoms of carbon dioxide toxicity after about 56 hours.

    “It wouldn’t have necessarily poisoned him,” Hexdall said. “It would have taken about 79 hours for him to be unconscious from carbon dioxide.”

    Okene was rescued after 60 hours of being trapped—right in the window for survival.

    Okene also managed to elude the threat of high air pressure, which can be deadly under water.

    Under increased air pressure, human blood can become saturated with nitrogen—Okene’s nitrogen levels during his ordeal were much higher than ours on the Earth’s surface.

    Diving deep can bring on “nitrogen narcosis”—when under more than 80 feet of water, a swimmer can become dazed from the overwhelming levels of nitrogen in the water.

    Then there’s the problem of readjusting to surface air pressure after rescue.

    “He can’t come back to the surface immediately,” said Petar Denoble, vice president of research at the Divers Alert Network. “If he did, he would die. He needs to get into an underwater habitat.”

    To get Okene and the divers who saved him back to normal pressure levels, the group had to enter a diving bell, also known as a transfer capsule.

    According to Denoble, this vessel would have been “at the same pressure as the bottom of the ocean,” allowing for the group to be transported from one location to another while maintaining the pressure of the original location.

    From the diving bell, Okene and the rescue team “crawls through a tunnel where it is warm and dry,” entering a decompression chamber. This chamber allows people to gradually adjust to normal pressure levels.

    Regardless of the science, Hexdall said Okene was lucky to have survived his ordeal: “I don’t know what it was—it was divine providence.”

  • PZ Cussons hosts Chemistry Challenge finalists

    PZ Cussons hosts Chemistry Challenge finalists

    The four finalists of the maiden edition of PZ Cussons Chemistry Challenge (PZCCC) last week toured both the corporate head office and the plant of the conglomerate in Lagos.
    Ejiogu Emmanuel Onyekachi of Miketoy College, Ikotun and Obi Uchenna David of Barachel College, Ifako-Agege made it to the final stage of the tightly contested Chemistry Challenge along with Victor Ike-Okoro of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere; and Mgbemena Thankgod of Leeland International College, Oregun, Ikeja.
    The visit was necessary for “the students to see Chemistry in action,” as highlighted by the company’s Group Corporate Affairs & Admin Director, Ms Yomi Ifaturoti.
    She addressed the students who were accompanied by their teachers and principals.
    Ms Faturoti congratulated the finalists for making it this far despite the tough competition.
    She stressed that PZ Cussons Foundation, which was formally launched in 2008, has been unrelenting in giving back to the society in various facets of life which include road maintenance, health, education and lots more.
    According to her, “The Foundation has completed 43 projects in three years. We are ‘making life better’ as enshrined in our pay off.”
    She acknowledged the efforts of the teachers and school management for seeing to it that they supported the student scientists.
    A delighted Chemistry teacher at Topgrade Secondary School, Mr. Odinibe John Nnani, showered encomium on PZ Cussons for enlivening the love for Chemistry and by extension, science subjects in the students.
    He said the competition has made the students go extra mile and as a result make them study hard in order to make it to the level.
    “Fundamental thing is to fund a mental thing, and that is exactly what PZ Cussons is doing,” he said.
    The next point of call was a visit to the massive PZ Cussons Plant in Ikorodu. The students were taken round the plant’s production chain. “It was a great privilege, today was fun,” said Thankgod
    The students and their teachers were thrilled by what they saw at the PZ Cussons facilities. The staff members’ top-notch human relations were enough to make one feel at home.
    In a separate interview with the finalists, they all attributed their success to hard work, confidence and focus.
    For Thankgod, he would stop at nothing to put in his best: “I believe that I am going to win the first prize. In whatever I do, I am always a winner and I am sure that for God to lead me thus far, I am going to win.”
    Thankgod, who will like to become a Chemical Engineer, said he does not play with his studies and always avoid things that could adversely affect him. “I am a serious student and I don’t joke with my studies.”
    In the same vein, Emmanuel is confident that he will emerge the overall winner in the competition: “I believe in myself and I have confidence that I am going to win.”
    When asked what would be his attitude should he not win, he giggled and said: “Well, I would not let that discourage me because God has been kind to me for making it thus far. However, I believe that I am going to win the first prize.”
    Also, Victor remained resolute that the first prize is for him when he was spoken to. “Although, I would say that I never expected myself to make it to the final stage because the contest was fierce. When I saw my name, I was stunned.”
    Having made it to this final stage, Victor said: “I am going to win this. I need to make my school, friends and my parents proud.”
    Uchenna’s spirit is also high. The handsome-looking young man was looking forward to the final battle slated for October 4.
    The overall winner of PZCCC would be rewarded with N700, 000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and gold medal, while his teacher would have N100,000 cash prize and another N100,000 worth of chemistry books presented to his school.
    The first runner-up would have N500,000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and second place medal, while the teacher would win N60,000 plus a donation of chemistry books worth N50,000 to his school.
    The second runner prize would go away with N400, 000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and third place medal. The teacher would have N40, 000 while the school would receive N50, 000 worth of chemistry books. The third runner-up would win N300, 000 worth of scholarship, a laptop and a consolation medal while the teacher would get N20, 000 and the school N50, 000 worth of chemistry books.
  • N1.7m prizes for science contest winners

    N1.7m prizes for science contest winners

    It was sweet reward for hard work for pupils, teachers and schools that excelled in this year’s edition of the NNPC/MOBIL/STAN Quiz and Project competition held Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital as they smiled home with prizes worth N1.7million.

    The competition, which featured written and oral quizzes on science-based subjects as well as science project exhibition was one of the highlights of the 54th conference of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) at the Community Secondary School, Aka Ofot.

    The pupils, who represented Delta, Osun, Imo and Cross River States (Primary Category) and FCT, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Ondo States (secondary category) in the oral quiz final put up a sterling performance that demonstrated they earned their places through hard work.

    The questions, which were structured to test their critical thinking ability and depth of scientific knowledge and its applications, covered areas of Live Sciences (Biology and Physical Health Education), Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics), Mathematical Sciences (General Mathematics and Further Mathematics), Vocational Sciences (Agricultural Science and Home Economics), Technology (Technology and Computer Studies) and Computer Science for the secondary category. The primary participants were tested in Basic Mathematics and Basic Science and Technology.

    At the end of the competition, the team from Delta State, represented by Praprara Owodeha-Ashaka and Ajirioghene Eyehwkwa of DSC Model Primary Schools I and III lifted the trophy in the primary category with 112.25 points. They were followed by Osun in the second position (105.75) and Imo in the third (100.75).

    In the secondary category, it was the duo of Obinna Ukogu and Victoria Okeke that won the trophy for the FCT with 127 points. Abia came second with 120 and Akwa Ibom third with 115.50.

    The winners of the primary category were rewarded with N150,000 while runners up got N100,000. The secondary winners got N200,000 while the runners up got N100,000 courtesy of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), sponsors of the competition for the past 18 years.

    Individual subject winners of the written quiz were also rewarded with N50,000 cash prizes.

    In the project category, the pupils worked on the theme: “Security Devices” with Doregos Private Academy, Ipaja, Lagos State, lifting the trophy and N100,000 prize for its bomb detector.

    The teacher’s project was won by two-time winner, Mr Olanipekun Eweje who teaches at Government Science Technical College, Ayede-Ekiti in Ekiti State. His project, a fuel less energy generating device for rural dwellers, earned him N300,000 – N200,000 and a laptop worth N100,000.

    He urged government to support the projects exhibited at the conference so they can solve local problems. Speaking on their quiz victory, an elated Victoria Okeke said though they had tough competitors, they were well prepared to win.

    “The students here were extremely good and competitive. It was a tough one but we were well prepared. We attend Loyola Jesuit and are taught to respond well under pressure. The preliminaries in Abuja prepared us for the final,” she said.

    In his speech at the event, Dr Ayodele Fagbemi, Manager, Medicine and Occupational Health, MPN said the oil firm considers it expedient to support STEM activities to encourage young people to take to science and technology.

    He praised STAN for engaging pupils in this regard.

    “We commend STAN’s unwavering dedication to attracting students to science-related fields and to ensuring that anyone who wishes to become an engineer, mathematician or scients will have that opportunity,” he added.

     

  • Scientists’ aim for baby pandas

    Scientists’ aim for baby pandas

    As Edinburgh Zoo and Scotland awaits the birth of a cub or two to Tian Tian, hopefully any new arrivals will happily suckle on
    their mother in order to receive the essential nutrients and antibodies they need to help them grow.

    However, pandas are not always comfortable breeding in a zoo, and will sometimes reject or even accidentally kill their newborn babies if they are feeling stressed.

    Similarly, if two cubs are born to a panda, one will be rejected so that all of the mother’s attention and milk can be invested in just one
    cub.

    In these scenarios humans will step in to lend a hand, which is why conservationists in China are keen on developing an artificial milk
    formula for abandoned or orphaned panda cubs, and are looking for help from scientists at the University of Glasgow.

    At the moment, hand-rearing of orphan panda cubs relies on cows’ milk adapted for puppy dogs or, in the case of twins, swapping them when the mother is distracted so each can get sufficient milk.

    However, better support for panda cubs is needed because pandas, unlike humans, are heavily dependent on the mother’s first milk, or
    ‘colostrum’, which contains large amounts of antibodies needed to protect the newborn from disease. It is absolutely essential for panda cubs to receive their full quota of colostrum milk from their mothers – without it, they would die.

    To help the Chinese conservationists in their quest, researchers at Glasgow are leading a study into panda milk that is being part-funded by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan, China.

    The project is being led by Professor Malcolm Kennedy of the School of Life Sciences, in collaboration with Dr Richard Burchmore of the Glasgow Polyomics facility at the University of Glasgow and Dr David Watson at the University of Strathclyde. Professor Hou Rong in Chengdu is leading the Chinese arm of the project.

    The team is using state-of-the-art instruments to identify and characterise the proteins and other molecules that make up panda colostrum and the later, mature milk.

    Milk is a complex mixture of nutrients and other molecules that support development and protect against infection. Understanding how the composition of panda milk differs from dairy and human milk may assist in the development of a modified formula that can better support baby pandas.

    Professor Kennedy said: “My interest here is in the biology of lactation in bears. Bears give birth to tiny, helpless cubs that are
    unusually small relative to their mothers in the case of pandas the weight ratio can be as low as 1:1,000 or less. It could be that panda milk is specially adapted to rear such under-developed young. Indeed, we have found that panda milk takes much longer to convert from colostrum to regular milk than in cows, for example.

    We are investigating the lactation period from birth to about 150 days. When we look at how levels of different proteins change during
    panda lactation, we find that these molecules change unexpectedly slowly compared to other placental mammals. Also, certain small molecules that include essential nutrients are produced in large amounts at first, then
    fade away, while some are produced constantly, and others appear later.

    “The research will help us understand lactation biology in different types of mammal, bears in particular. We are still a long way from
    designing a milk substitute for panda cubs, but the kind of data we are generating will set us in the right direction.”

    Professor Kennedy will also address a three-day Giant Panda Research Symposium being held at Edinburgh Zoo on 10-12 September.

  • Science camp enthrals pupils

    Science camp enthrals pupils

    BY the time Temitope Ejide and Mark Nwabianke concluded a debate on the topic: Science and Technology: A curse or blessing to humanity, the audience at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Lagos State Science and Technology Camp last Friday could not agree on a winner.

    The duo debated excellently despite not having prior knowledge of the topic, demonstrating high level of knowledge of science and technology issues, as well as commendable debating skills.

    Temitope, a pupil of Olowu Senior Model College, Ikorodu supported the motion, while Mark, a pupil of Lagos Senior Model College, Badore, which hosted the seven-day camp, spoke against it. However, both spoke so convincingly about the topic that they won the judges over when they had the floor.

    Temitope pointed out that science and technology has aided ICT development, improved banking services, eased communication hassles among others. On the other hand, Mark said advancements in science and technology caused the world wars, destroyed the environment, and cause health care issues.

    At the end of the six-minute debate, the judges, the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje, and his Education counterpart, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, declared them both winners.

    The debate was one of the presentations by participants of the camp at the closing ceremony that gave the commissioners and other guests a little insight into what the pupils enjoyed during the programme.

    The participants, 300 pupils attending Lagos State-owned public secondary schools, were exposed to the exciting and innovative side of science during the week-long camp organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology.

    It featured science quizzes, games, debates, interactions on difficult topics, lessons about multimedia presentations, and mathematics clinic, among others, coordinated by 30 science teachers.

    The pupils, who were selected for the camp based on performance in a test administered by the ministry in conjunction with the six education districts in the state, were also given raw materials to create any device of their choice to stimulate their critical thinking skills and talents.

    Mabadeje said the camp was organised to stimulate the pupils’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), foster cooperation and friendship among them. He said this year’s edition was expanded to accommodate 240 more pupils, and added that there are plans to expand in future.

    “Essentially, it is to deepen the interest in STEM subjects and equip you with necessary skills to understand and enhance your academic performance in the sciences. We have increased the number of students from 60 to 300. It is still a drop in the ocean in the number of children we have in public secondary schools,” he said.

    Mabadeje also spoke of plans to endow projects in the model schools that host the programme.

    In her speech, Mrs Oladunjoye, who represented Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, urged the pupils to put all they learnt during the camp into practice. She also commended them for being attentive when she visited the camp earlier to monitor their activities.

    “I charge you to put into practice all you have learnt here. I was here to see what you were doing yesterday and I was impressed that you were totally involved in what you were doing,” he said.

    In an interview with The Nation some of the participants said the camp was worthwhile and would help them in their school work.

    A senior pupil at Idiaraba Senior High School, Mushin, Oluwadamilola Fasanya, said the camp has encouraged her to work harder.

    “The science capacity camp has been great and educative. It was worthwhile. I learnt about some topics in Chemistry I had never heard about before. I also met people who are better than me. The exposure to such students will help me to work harder. Also, before, I don’t like working on science projects but now I will start working on my own,” she said.

    Another pupil, Marvelous Adepoju of Lagos State Junior Model College, Kankon, said the camp has exposed him to subjects he will meet as a senior pupil from September.

    “The camp was nice. The gave us the introductory part of Physics, Chemistry and Biology that I will meet in SSI,” he said.