University of Abuja played host to hundreds of Students at the Inaugural FIRST® LEGO® League Competition to stimulate the use of Technology in Education among young students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Technology offers opportunities to stimulate growth, increase innovation and enable individuals and institutions to interact more productively within the global economy.

The visionary leadership of Professor Michael Umale Adikwu, vice-chancellor of the University, whose interest in stimulating young students’ interest in Science and Technology is effusive, upon realizing the possibilities require the need to put technology at the core and also as a part of a mix of productive changes and supporting capabilities, offered supports to the organizers.

The FLL program is a global initiative of a US organisation FIRST® and® LEGO® the Educational toys giant.

The program has an Abuja Based NGO Coderina Education & Technology Foundation as its Regional Operational Partner.

FIRST® LEGO® League, an innovation and robotics program, designed to get children excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), and teach them valuable employment and life skills.

What is interesting about the FLL, and that which sets it apart from every other robotics program, is that it encompasses other elements such as Project where kids carry out actual research work to find innovative solutions to real life issues and it also hems-in Core Values – making kids responsible individuals as well as team players.

With such problems as a growing world population and limited resources as well as an increasing need for energy and the threats of pollution, there is no shortage of problems for engineers to solve.

However, as the number of challenges the world faces is on the rise at a tremendous rate, the number of educated people required to solve these problems must also increase at a tremendous rate.

Unfortunately, that is not happening; simply, the engineering profession is not supplying the number of professionals that the world requires.

But, the Coderina Day held recently at UniAbuja proved to be a defining date in the lives of hundreds of students around the FCT who turned up to compete in the inaugural FIRST® LEGO® League program at the University library.

According to Mr. Olajide Ajayi, a director at Coderina, “FIRST is a unique program that brings together five constituencies: the business community, professional engineers, high school administrators and teachers, universities, and the high school students. You’ve got all five constituencies, working together for the same common goal, and it is very special.”

He added that choice of the location, a newly built ultra-modern library, will forever have a historical significance to the CODERINA team as well as the host University.

“It went down as the first ever event to be held at the venue and also marks the first Abuja FLL regional. The students were entertained and feted. The choice of having the event at a University cannot be overemphasized as it serves to inspire the young students to aspire to higher education.

“Since the mission of FIRST is to inspire students to learn, there exists a symbiotic relationship between FIRST and engineering colleges and universities. In short, FIRST excites students and universities educate students.

“The event at Abuja followed another hugely successful one that took place at the indoor sports hall of the University of Lagos on the 14th of March.

“After only 8 weeks from the time the annual challenge is announced and teams receive their kit of parts to begin to carry out their research on a chosen topic relative to the annual theme, design, test and build their robots, teams enter a regional event where they compete with other teams.

“These competitions are wildly exciting, energetic and motivating. They have been described as ‘part robot-festival, part music-concert and all around fun.’”

Teams from seven Public/Government Schools, University of Abuja Staff School and four private Schools made up the 12 competing teams with each team parading ten team members and two mentors.

Teams were registered and presented with T-shirts with logos of sponsors FLL, SAP, NITDA, Coderina and the host, University of Abuja to wear for the event.

The competition started in earnest with a recital of the national anthem and a brief speech on what to expect during the day. Teams were handed am coordinators to direct them to each of the judging rooms for Project, Core values and robot design. While judging was going on the DJ supplied music to the large arena as students, parents, Stem Ambassadors and all present merry.

After the completion of judging the stage was set for the Robot game: a spectator sport for all to witness.

Three representatives of each team were called to each of the practice tables to finalise their preparation prior to moving to the main tables to compete and showcase what they have been able to do over the 8-week period. 

They have worked assiduously on building robots and programming them to carry out designated missions on the thematic table.

After three rigorous rounds, two teams, NITDA Techno Group and NITDA Spiders emerged to compete in a best of 2 rounds finals.

With the finals concluded and a review of results of other components (project, robot game, robot design and core values.) by the head judge, Judge Advisor and the Lead judges.

They unanimously crowned the NITDA Techno Group as the overall champion.

Mr. Audu Sheidu, principal of University of Abuja International Secondary School got a special mention for his high level of interest and motivation of his students in getting them involved in the program.

The research project threw up some interesting topics e.g. “Teaching young girls about the ills and effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)” by Great Heights Academy and the “effects of Deforestation on the Society” by Students of the Government Secondary School Area 10 Abuja.

Other awards recipients include NITDA Spiders (Great Heights Academy Abuja) – Gracious Professionalism; NITDA Lion (Hillside School Abuja) – Robot Tech; NITDA Techno Group (Tudunwada Secondary School) – Robot Performance; NITDACrown (University of Abuja International School) – Judges Award; NITDA Crystallite (Government Secondary School Area 10 Abuja) – Project Award; Outstanding Volunteer Award went to Bello Saliu of Government Secondary School Area 10 Abuja and Outstanding Coordinator Award – Mrs Bankole of Banky’s School.

Ajayi said, “The true spirit of these competitions is not the outcome of the matches, but rather the purpose of the activity. ‘What is celebrated at FIRST is not who can gather the most points during a competition, but rather which teams can best inspire and motivate youth to pursue studies and careers in technology.’ Simply put what the Students learn over the course of the program would be more than what they win.

“It is pertinent to note that, during the course of the program and tournaments, FLL teams demonstrate gracious professionalism through their respect for each other, courtesy, sportsmanship and best behaviour at all times. As enthused by the team at FIRST “By celebrating technology and providing a forum to promote engineers as role models, theculture of the participants is changed. And, who knows, the culture of our society may change as well.”  These are the Core Values of the FLL Program”

The event had in attendance some special dignitaries including Professor Mashi, deputy vice chancellor of University of Abuja, Yelwa representing NITDA, Representatives of FCT Universal Basic Education and the Secondary Education Boards, Principals/Administrator of some of the participating schools, Parents and a host of others.

“In the 2015 FIRST® LEGO® League TRASH TREKSM Challenge, 290,000 children ages 9 to 16* from over 80 countries will explore the fascinating world of trash.

From collection, to sorting, to smart production and reuse, there is more to your trash than meets the eye.

“Join FIRST LEGO League teams on a Trash Trek to discover the hidden (or not so hidden) world of trash!” Ajayi urged the Nigerian IT community.

He added that school administrators, State and Federal Ministries of Education are encouraged to embrace this initiative geared towards helping to shape the future of education in Nigeria.