Skool Media, a world class education technology infrastructure company has reaffirmed commitment to continuously deliver technology-enabled education that will equip the Nigerian child with skills and knowledge needed to be relevant in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

Dr. Macjohn Onyekwere Nwaobiala, Chairman, Advisory Board, Skool Media Nigeria Limited, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference organized to brief stakeholders and the media of the giant strides being made by the company towards improving education sector in Nigeria.

Dr. Nwaobiala explained that their goal majorly is to re-tool the country’s education system and provide a platform for the Nigerian child to compete globally.

According to him, “At Skool Media, our vision is to provide a world class education technology infrastructure, that is focused on re-tooling the Nigerian education system and providing a platform for the Nigerian child to compete globally.

“This, we have been doing since 2013 as a role model in the adoption of technology in education in Africa and being reference point for all edu-tech stakeholders.

“Our ultimate target is to provide utmost professional and ethical standards in building a globally competitive educational system”.

He noted that in order to achieve its quest of providing a world class education technology infrastructure, it will embrace the Public Private Partnership (PPP) window through maximum utilization of all its centres to build 21st century students and teachers technology hubs in Nigeria.

Dr. Nwaobiala further lauded achievements already recorded in their drive to deliver world class education technology infrastructure over the past six years.

He said, “In the last six years, Skool Media has set up 75 Students Technology Experience Centers by installing over 452 projectors and 2500 laptops in 75 Unity Schools across the six (6) geopolitical zones.

“These students technology experience centres were established in the schools as an avenue for students to access a rich variety of multimedia learning content.

“This, we believe, will make them learn useful digital and soft skills to enable them to compete globally.

“Some of the skills learned by these students thus far include coding, Internet of Things (IoTS), Microsoft office skills, presentation skills among others.

“The centres are also used for the training of students on relevant soft skills such as emotional intelligence, public speaking, critical thinking and problem solving and interpersonal skills to enable them balance school and life”.

While commending the efforts of the Federal Government in improving the education sector, Nwaobiala said that there is need for school curricular to be fully galvanized to prepare Nigerian students for the 21st century workplace’s demand for hands-on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) applications and diverse vocational and technical skills.

This he said will prepare the Nigerian child to take up the challenges of modern workplace by developing relevant technology skills capable of making them qualify to face global labour market competitiveness.

He added that any country that attains global standards in education development has created a pathway for economic empowerment of its future leaders; while also noting that the giant strides being made in the sector now, will surely get the country there in no distance future.

He also thanked the Federal Ministry of Education, under the leadership of Honourable Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu for the opportunity given to the organization to partner in improving the education landscape through the installation of digital infrastructure in Unity Colleges.

He revealed that with the partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, was the reason they were able to setup 75 students technology experience centers, installed 452 projectors and provided 2500 laptops and established eight (8) teachers digital learning centres across the six (6) geopolitical zones.

He further disclosed that they will be coming up with a new digital innovation, dubbed “U-Create Hub”, which he said will be an innovator’s space, where kids and youths are inspired to innovate, create and collaboratively learn coding, 3D printing, robotics and artificial intelligence.

The U-Create Hub, according to him, “is weaved around creating technology lab that produces Africa’s foremost young innovators and problem solvers through creative thinking.

“ It will provide  range of exciting opportunities for learners to explore, through our digital lab, gamified learning resources, coding challenges, hardware programming with Arduino, robotics kits, prototyping with 3D printers, augment and virtual reality, learner-friendly Sci-fi movies, animated series and short videos on emerging technologies to inspire their ingenuity.

“We believe that we should train our children beyond consumption. We are developing producers of technology and not consumers of technologies.

“We should begin to train our children beyond consumption mentality which has been the bane of our economy for years.

“The initiative will therefore provide insight into the mindset of students to be creative and exploratory, so that they can always think about solving problems and bringing to life practical solutions leveraging the power of Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)”.,  he added.

Responding to questions at the briefing, Mr. Moses Imayi, project director/ceo, Skool Media said, that the youths are leaders of tomorrow, who must be prepared to take up the challenges of modern workplace by developing relevant technology skills capable of making them globally competitive.

He noted that the impact being made by Skool Media in the education sector will stand the test of time, adding also that they will continue to be a role model for the adoption of technology in education in Africa, and being a reference point for all education and technology stakeholders in Nigeria.