By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Federal Government on Monday celebrated three brilliant science students: Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) who emerged as the 2021 winners in the rigorous and competitive science subjects examinations conducted by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education.
Miss. Maryam Olufunmilayo Ogunbayo, of (Pen Resource Academy) Gombe state, Master Gbolahan Azeem Ayinde, of (African Church Grammar School) Ogun state and Miss. Uchendu Mmesomachukwu Judith, of (UNIBEN Demonstration Secondary school) Edo state, emerged winners at the finals of the competition conducted under the auspices of Prof. Uno Uno, in Abuja.
The three students have therefore bagged President Muhammadu Buhari Presidential in Scholarship Award to study any science related subject or course up to Ph. D. level.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in an applause for their brilliance and hard work, tasked them to work hard to make Nigeria the greatest country in the world through their scientific talents.
The Minister reiterated: “Nigeria is blessed with virtually all sorts of minerals which can be put into use to strengthen our economy to build a strong and sustainable economy that will make Nigeria one of the greatest countries in the world.”
According to him, Nigeria is tired of importing goods into the country, explaining that as the country continues to import goods, it is invariably exporting jobs leaving many young Nigerians unemployed.
“The only way we can effectively utilize these resources that Almighty God put in our soil and environment in all the 36 states and FCT is to have competent people (like these young scientists) with the required skills to now convert these natural resources into the products, goods and services that we need and that is we are so excited about this programme which covers the 774 LGAs.” He said.
According to him, the award which started in 2017 is also intended to stimulate and inspire young Nigerians to show interest in science subjects.
The Minister made this known during the presentation of certificates to the three outstanding students that emerged champions at the Young Nigeria Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA) on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the scholarship that will be formally presented by President Muhammadu Buhari is up to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree level, is in any science-related discipline of their choice at any university in the country.
Onu, encouraged the winners to continue to work hard to be the best they can be, adding, that Nigeria, he acknowledged, was the first country in Africa to produce a Nobel laureate in English Literature. I therefore urge you to aspire to be the first Nigerian Nobel laureates in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Edet Sunday Akpan, while congratulating the 2021 winners of the award said the initiative organized by the Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Education was to encourage the teenagers in STEM from all the 774 LGAs.
He encouraged the students to be ambassadors of Nigeria especially in the areas of the development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and used the opportunity to invite them to the 2022 edition of Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2022, scheduled to hold from March 14th.
In his remark, the Chief Examiner of the competition, Prof. Uno Uno, admitted that the 23 finalists that came from across the 36 states were subjected to highly advanced questions in Physics, Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry, adding that Gombe State emerged first, while Ogun and Edo States followed with 119, 216 and 110 marks.