The Transformative Role of STEM Education in Empowering the Nigerian Child

Introduction



Education is an indispensable tool in the development of a country. The saying that “Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world” is simply not just a collection of words, but accurately represents the reality of our contemporary society. A 2012 UNESCO GEM report revealed that every $1 spent on a person’s education yields US$10-$15 in economic growth over the person’s working lifetime. Looking at developed countries that have made significant progress, especially in the 21st century, one glaring determining factor would be the prioritising of quality education. 

STEM, which is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is such an important part of the world today. It is vital for economic development and job creation. The demand for STEM education has surged in the 21st century due to the evolving job market that necessitates a new range of skills, which can primarily be developed through a focus on STEM education. Science and technology drive innovation, and innovation paves the way for development. A report by NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) showcased that countries that have made significant investments in strong STEM education have achieved a notable position on the global stage. For instance, the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States over the last half-century, ranging from 50% to 85%, can be linked to progress and advancements in science, technology, and engineering products. Countries like the USA, China, and Germany have devoted as much as 4% of their GDP to research, development, and innovation in science and technology.

The State of STEM Education in Nigeria

In Nigeria, STEM education is experiencing notable growth with an increase in the number of schools integrating STEM subjects into their curriculum. Policies such as the National Policy on Science and Technology Education and the National Policy on Education exist to give legal backing and promote STEM disciplines across the country. A report by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in 2023 identified a significant increase in STEM education programs across schools in Nigeria. The number was shown to have grown by 45% since 2019 which is a very commendable improvement, taking into cognisance the role that STEM plays in innovation and where Nigeria was in the years preceding that.

To emphasise the value of STEM education, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former Minister of Science and Technology, while stressing the need to encourage students to cultivate an interest in STEM, explained that it is the key to unlocking the numerous natural resources Nigeria is blessed with. He remarked;

“We are challenging all Nigerian youths to show interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This is because we are interested in making them take careers in STEM. Nigeria is blessed with virtually all the mineral resources in the world, and with the requisite knowledge and skills, we will be able to develop these resources and put them into use.”

However, despite this, there are still noticeable problems that exist that hinder its growth. The performance of students in STEM subjects has raised significant concerns among stakeholders in the education sector. Alarming statistics continue to emerge every year, which show that the growth of STEM education in Nigeria is plagued by many deficiencies. One of the primary issues is the problem of qualified STEM educators. There are not enough teachers qualified in the field of Robotics and STEM to teach the large number of students we have today. A gap exists between teacher education programs and the educational curriculum for students, leading to shortcomings in some graduating teachers. Since teachers often instruct based on their training, inadequate teacher education programs result in ineffective educators who, in turn, provide subpar instruction to students. Most of the teachers also fail to stay up to date with changes in teaching methods, and this ultimately impacts the knowledge that is being imparted. 

The insufficient educational infrastructure in Nigeria is another significant challenge. Many schools do not have appropriate structures conducive to academic activities. Often, the school environment is not ideal for learning, leading to students in such institutions losing interest in their studies. This issue is particularly prevalent in rural areas and the northern regions of Nigeria. In some instances, students lack access to modern libraries, laboratories, technical workshops, and ICT equipment, which are essential for their education.

Additionally, inadequate funding consistently hinders the growth of STEM education in Nigeria. There is so much work to be done, but lack of funding has restricted the implementation of technology-driven curriculum and proper equipment in schools for practical teaching.

Other challenges, such as inadequate policy reforms to support integration and development of STEM disciplines, gender inequality, corruption and lack of government support, low compensation and absence of incentives for teachers, imbalance in curriculum between public and private schools, lack of digitalisation of the Nigerian education sector especially for public schools, brain drain to other developed countries, and limited research & development in STEM disciplines, have also contributed to its stunted growth. 

Nevertheless, there is a growing momentum right now. In November 2024, the Minister of Education, during a 2024 stakeholders’ consultative engagement with Commissioners and Secretaries of Education from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made a strong appeal for prioritising STEM and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the state level. He urged state governments to allocate adequate budgetary resources and foster innovative partnerships with private-sector stakeholders.

Benefits of STEM Education

There are numerous advantages to STEM education. The list is inexhaustive and cannot be completely identified in a single piece of work. Having highlighted what STEM education is and the challenges that limit its growth in Nigeria, here are several key reasons why STEM education matters;

1. Innovation and Technological Improvement: STEM nurtures curiosity and deep thinking. Through this, the young mind can ask important questions and be inquisitive. By encouraging curiosity and experimentation, Nigerian children grow up to become innovators, inventors, and contributors to technological solutions tailored to everyday challenges. Nigeria’s tech boom witnessed 383 start-ups raise $2 billion between 2015 and 2022, highlighting the transformative and innovative potential in STEM-led ventures. 

1. Equips Children with Future-Ready Skills: STEM education builds creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These are indispensable skills needed to tackle tomorrow’s issues. In a rapidly changing world, STEM skills are becoming increasingly essential for everyone. Children exposed to STEM learning early on are better equipped to adapt to future changes and thrive in an evolving global ecosystem.

1. Employment and Economic Opportunities: With the increasing population in Africa, most especially in Nigeria, the poverty level is at an all-time high, and one way this can be significantly reduced is through education. According to UNESCO 2019, less than 25% of students in higher education across Africa are enrolled in STEM disciplines, with most pursuing studies in social sciences and humanities. This underscores the significant skills gap in STEM areas that presents a major challenge for the continent. In order to address the projected need for skilled workers in crucial fields like engineering, healthcare, and IT, Africa will require an additional 23 million STEM graduates by 2030 to occupy essential positions. STEM-related fields are among the highest-paying jobs in the world today. Improved STEM education helps with better career prospects and reduces unemployment in the future. New STEM-related jobs spring up every year. An estimated 2.5 million additional engineers are required in sub-Saharan Africa to address its development challenges; however, the region is currently unable to meet this requirement.

1. Promotes National Development: A 2024 report from UNESCO emphasises that STEM is essential for fostering innovation, economic expansion, and sustainable development across Africa. By 2030, it is predicted that young people in Africa will represent 42 per cent of the global youth population and 75 per cent of individuals under 35 on the continent, underscoring the necessity of enhancing STEM education to unlock their potential. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 acknowledges the important role that STEM education can play in accelerating Africa’s development. Consequently, Nigeria must leverage STEM education and skills to advance as a global leader in tackling major developmental trends such as emerging technologies, cyber security, climate change, the green economy, and global health. An increasingly educated populace is undoubtedly the continent's greatest asset.

1. Reducing Gender Gap: Investment in STEM education will help reduce the gender gap that currently exists. A significant challenge in Africa is the low level of participation and a fragile pipeline in STEM disciplines, with fewer than 25% of college students engaged in STEM areas, and among them, less than 30% are female. Only 18% to 31% of individuals in science research are women. This problem is partly attributed to students' insufficient awareness of the career options available in STEM. By providing equal access to opportunities for both boys and girls to engage in STEM education, obsolete stereotypes are challenged, and girls are encouraged to participate in innovation.

1. Improves Public Health and Drives Health Innovation: STEM education does so much more than prepare individuals for high-tech careers. It has a long-lasting impact on public health systems and the general well-being of people through the understanding of science and health-related information. Also, STEM-trained professionals contribute to the research and development of life-saving technologies, vaccines, etc, that have helped in curing so many deadly diseases. For instance, the HPV Vaccine, COVID-19 vaccines, Polio vaccine, and so on were made possible as a result of STEM education.

1. Positioning for Global competition: Practical teaching of STEM subjects, especially at an early age, prepares individuals for world domination through global competition. For instance, the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) competition and the opportunities it presents for participating countries and individuals.

Recommendations and Call to Action

1. Teacher Training: A major area of concern in the growth of STEM education is the absence of robust teacher training programs. Teachers are very vital for the growth in knowledge of children, and as such, efforts must be put into training teachers in Nigeria, especially in emerging areas. Evidence has shown that many teachers are not conversant with the use of basic technology, to the extent of not using emails for communication and lacking basic computer skills. This is also true for Science and Technology educators, who are tasked with imparting the next generation of tech leaders. This should not be the case. Governments and organisations must take the step to invest in teacher training and ensure that workshops, seminars, and professional training programs are conducted for teachers on a more regular basis, and also make it a prerequisite for promotion.

Arclights Foundation is already making strides on this through its Arclights Learn Platform, where thousands of teachers have been trained on ECCDE principles, basic education, and robotics. More organisations must follow suit to ensure that all round-impact is made. 

1. Development of a Robust Curriculum for STEM Subjects: The curriculum for STEM disciplines should be improved to integrate practical teaching/learning and real-world problems. Theory is okay, but there is a need to incorporate hands-on learning that will better equip students.

1. Digitisation of Teaching and Learning and Provision of Infrastructure: The world is technology-driven, and STEM subjects cannot be taught without basic digital skills and tools. It is important that government and organisations empower students through the provision of basic infrastructure like ICT tools, equipping of research labs, and general digitisation of learning tools. This can ultimately help them in understanding how to use these tools in the process of learning. 

1. Resource Provision and Sufficient Funding: The Nigerian education sector is currently riddled with insufficient government funding and inadequate resources. We have seen the benefits attached to STEM education. Some organisations Nigeria is already making huge investments in STEM education, but however, the gap is still very wide. This is a call to action to the government and organisations (NGOs, development partners, etc) to step up and meet the demands through scholarships, mentorships, competitions, and funding allocation to STEM education. 

1. Parents and educators also play a significant role in shaping students' interest and orientation towards STEM fields. Educators can engage students through hands-on learning experiences and targeted teaching programs that enhance their curiosity about the subjects being taught, while parents can guide their children's career choices by introducing them to STEM concepts early on. 

Conclusion

STEM represents the future, and that future is already upon us. The advantages associated with STEM education are countless and cannot be overstated. Empowering the Nigerian child in STEM fields is not just about academic achievement, but mainly about preparing them to be active creators of solutions and problem solvers. STEM fosters resilience and creativity to experiment beyond limitations, and to unlock this potential, deliberate action must be taken by all stakeholders to prioritise STEM at all levels of learning.