Barely two months after Senator Tokunbo Abiru’s first of its kind technology-based empowerment programme tagged, ‘Senator Abiru initiative Laboratory (SAIL)’, produced its first set of graduands, another groups of participants from two different sections of the programme have, again, graduated in grandstyle.
The laudable innovation lab, which were segmented into six sections, was created in 2021 by the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, as part of his endowment programmes to drive youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. The initiative was established in partnership with the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), Africa’s first innovation centre dedicated to accelerating economic prosperity, and is run under the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation.
While the maiden graduates were trained in Business 101 for Creative and Artisans, the new sets of graduates received training in Lagos East Teachers’ Fellowship and STEM Education for Senior Secondary School Students for a period of three months and four months respectively.
Other programmes of the SAIL initiative are Tech Talent Development, Cafe for Secondary School Students and Start-up Accelerator for Businesses.
Just like it was the case during the graduation of the maiden graduates, the graduating participants of the STEM programme who were all secondary schools students, expertly put some of technological skills and knowledge acquired during their training, on display at the event to the amazement of the guests, when they showcased their various problem solving innovations.
Among these innovative projects are: Home Automation System (produced by the Intelligent System Squad), Smart Eyes (produced by Naomi Techies group), Fire Alarm System (produced by Luminous Group) and Smart Green House System (produced by the Tech Tycoons group).
The event took place on Friday, July 29, 2022, at the same venue as the first graduation ceremony at the Aquilla Hall, lkorodu.
At the event, 57 secondary schools teachers in the Lagos East Senatorial District who had successfully completed training in modern inquiry based teaching techniques and secondary school students, numbering 30, who had completed training in physical computing as part of their Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum respectively at the Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) were presented certificates to the delight of the cheering guests and audience.
More so, the SAIL Hub Manager, Mr. Deji Abisola was available to co-ordinate the event alongside CCHub officials.
Notable dignitaries and graduands; including the Honourable Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, commended the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries and the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, on the SAIL project.
In her remarks, Mrs. Adefisayo hailed the unique approach of the distinguished Senator to development and stated that technology should be included in the school curriculum.
She added that the SAIL Teachers Fellowship will have a great impact on many generations.
Also, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Innovation and Technology, commended Senator Abiru for placing a premium on the human capital development, noting that the value of a trained mind can never be estimated.
He urged other elected public office holders to take a cue from Senator Abiru and champion programmes that will have lasting impacts on the lives of the people. ‘We need to geometrically multiply what Senator Abiru is doing across the nation”, the governor’s aide said.
In the same vein, some of the graduates of the Teachers’ Fellowship programme, in their separate remarks, lauded Senator Abiru for availing them the opportunity of participating in the programme, stating that they are now better teachers effectively equipped with 24th century teaching skills and knowledge.
Mr. Odeyale Adegoke Adeyemi, a teacher at the Model College, Ibogun, Epe, Lagos, appreciated Senator Abiru and said that his participation in the programme has enabled him overcome the deficiencies of the conventional teaching modalities.
“Through the teachers’ fellowship programme, I saw deficiency and limitation in the world of teaching I was conversant with which was not engaging. I was introduced to a better teaching methodology which has been so useful in teaching my students.
“The Lagos State East teacher fellowship gave me the opportunity to infuse technology to my classroom engagement and my experiences so far was making myself available against all odds coming from Epe. Nevertheless, I enjoyed every hour I spent at the Senator Abiru innovation laboratory lab, the classes were well delivered and facilitators were seasoned and approachable.
“I want to recommend the Lagos State teachers fellowship to teachable minds and receptive heart, teachers who love to improve in the method of teaching from what it used to be to the right method that can compete favourable across the world”.
Another teacher, Yusuf Kazeem Adegboyega, a Mathematics teacher at Epe Senior High School, Epe, in his own remarks, described Senator Abiru as a good leader, adding that the Teachers’ Fellowship programme has impacted on him positively.
“I want to start by quoting one of our great leaders, John Maxwell who said and l quote, “A leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way”. If you all agree with me, our most distinguished Senator is a good leader.
“To the glory of God, I am a participant at the STEM teachers’ fellowship. My participation in the Lagos East Teachers’ Fellowship has no doubt, impacted me positively. As a teacher, I have been able to learn new teaching methodology, particularly the use of IBL (Inquiry Base Learning) which has helped me to improve learning with my students and also I have learnt how to use various digital tools such as the Digital laboratory, the 2D and 3D ammunitions which have made teaching and learning more interactive and very productive.
“My experience under this fellowship has been a very wonderful one, no doubt. Though, it required me to travel far and I got home late due to the nature of the road, but each time, I come around, it has always been a thing of joy and I want to tell you here that in my last 12 years training as a professional teacher in government service, the Lagos state teachers’ fellowship has been very unique such that each time I got back to my students, l always give them the best and l do tell them that “if you focus on your focus you become the point of focus”. On that note, I want to give thanks to God Almighty for given me the opportunity to come this far and l particularly thank the distinguished Senator for the opportunity given to me and others by providing an enabling environment such as the SAIL programme. I will tell you that my experience of learning and teaching in the sail environment is just too perfect and I want to give it to the CC HUB team, the TACT and most especially, our beautiful and handsome facilitators and I sincerely recommend this fellowship to every teacher across the nation because this fellowship is a great platform capable of empowering teachers to bring out the best in their students and not only that, they will also learn and develop themselves with the 24th century teaching skills.
“I recommend this teacher fellowship programme ad a model to all other Senators across the nation and I equally recommend that the first set of beneficiaries of this programme should be made ambassadors and facilitators to further take this training to all the 16 LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos East Senatorial District”.
Another teacher from Epe Junior Grammar School, Temitope Abimbola, described her experience during the training as awesome and that the skills she acquired have been helpful to her in teaching pedagogy and other subjects.
“My experience has been so awesome. Through the fellowship, I acquired certain 24th century skills, these skills have been useful in teaching pedagogy and it has been so awesome.
“I find my class interesting, the moment I discover on my time table that I will be going to class the next day, I am prepared for the class and the students are always looking forward to seeing me coming around and all thanks to our most distinguished Senator and the team of CcHub. We really appreciate you.
“I have equally imbibe technological skills. There are some things on our devices that we don’t know how to use, even though we wanted to use them, but this Lagos teacher’s fellowship has opened our understanding to this and technology has now become part of our teaching.
“My experience during the programme has been wonderful and I was privilege to meet different people from different LCDAs and schools and we were able to discuss our individual challenges and general challenges as it concerns the education system”.
Meanwhile, earlier in his welcome address, Abiru, who was obviously elated by the impact the SAIL programmes had on participants, said that he was executing the mandate entrusted to him under three pillars, namely; Legislative Role, Empowerment/Facilitation and Endowment. According to him the SAIL project which is an initiative of his foundation, Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation is under his endowment pillar.
“Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL), is a first-of-its-kind innovation space in Lagos East Senatorial District, set up in partnership with a renowned technology and Social Enterprise company, The Co-creation Hub (Cc-HUB) in Lagos to train youths in the senatorial district on relevant digital and innovation skills, and build the best entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever-dynamic global economy.
“I am happy to report that in the last 19 months that I have been given the mandate to represent the people of Lagos East, I have been able to live up to expectations in the roles that I have set up for myself ”, adding that ‘the motivation behind this initiative among others is to further fulfil the sacred commitment with the people to deliver dividends and to truly champion programmes, Interventions and services that will improve the socio-economic conditions of our people”.
Speaking further on graduating participants of the STEM programme, the Senator said:
“Today, Secondary school students who are between the ages of 13 and 18 who are graduating have learnt about physical computing using Arduino and coding to develop various solutions to human problems. This is how Asian tigers pulled up and became one of the most technologically developed nations in the world.
“In the last 4 months, these kids have been kept busy and creative. The learning process has been most engaging and highly practical. They will be showcasing five (5) unique projects today which they have developed by themselves for the benefits of mankind”.
Abiru, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Finance and retired bank Chief Executive said that there is an urgent need to develop the interest of teenagers in production of tech-enabled devices, tools and gadgets that can aid the swift development of our industries in Nigeria.
“What we are doing today is preparing these young ones for the opportunity in the future. The jobs and economic opportunities of tomorrow will largely be defined by digital innovation and technology.
“It is interesting to know that some of their colleagues are already working for major corporations in the world while still in schools here in Nigeria. I interfaced with some of these young tech gurus recently in Gbagada at the Genz Techies Event where SAIL was the Title Sponsor. Young folks numbering almost 1,000 defied heavy downpour to discuss technology and network within their ecosystem.
”I met young CEOs in their teens who already have profitable tech businesses and employ dozens of people in the United States and other parts of the country”.
“Teachers, numbering about 50 who made it to the SAIL physical class and 350 that attended the on-line class, also shared life transforming experiences at SAIL.
“The teachers are from both public and private schools (STEM & Non STEM teachers) selected from all over Lagos East, covering Lagos Education District 2 & 3″.
Senator Abiru disclosed that the skill sets of the teachers have been greatly upscaled with the Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) which is currently being adopted globally for training students creatively, especially with the use of technology to make their teachings more effective and efficient.
Other dignitaries and party leaders who graced the occasion are: former Lagos State Deputy Governor and member, Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, GAC member, Asiwaju Basorun Olorunfunmi, Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, represented by Hon. Mayegun Moshood, Deputy State Chairman, Lagos APC, wife of the Senator, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Vice-Chairman, Lagos East All Progressives Congress(APC), Alhaji Bode Oyedele, Chairman, TACT, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, former, Lagos East APC Vice-Chairman, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, GAC member, Senator Anthony Adefuye, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Lagos State House of Assembly member, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, House Representatives candidate, Alhaja Kafilat Ogbara, Otunba (Dr.) Saheed Ibikunle, Hon (Princess) Adebimpe Akinsola, a former commissioner, Council chairmen.
Others were; Alhaji Ahmad Fawaz, Chairman, Khanz Group, Mr. Ali Baydoun, Managing Director, Khanz Group, Dr. Khodor Fawaz, CEO Khanz Group, Otunba Teni Zacchaeus, Mr Muyiwa Fagbemi, Chairman, Royal Sanderton, Mr. Olusegun Owoade, Co-founder, Mecho Autotech, Mr. Ina Alogwu, ARM Group Director, Digital Transformation, Mr. Yemi Toye, CIO, ARM Holdings, among other dignitaries.