By Omotunde Alawode
Since inception, STEM Africa Fest 2024, formerly STEAM Fun Fest, has impacted over 16,000 children, parents and educators.
In its fourth edition recently, STEM Africa Fest held at two locations, in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, and will continue in three other African countries, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Kenya.
The festival featured a wide array of science, technolgy, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities, tech career talks and hands-on STEAM labs, including sessions on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, coding, robotics, virtual reality, 3D printing, drone technology and science experiments. These interactive workshops provided children with an immersive experience, allowing them to explore the wonders of technology and its real-world applications.
One parent said, “Well done to the entire STEM Africa team. The STEM Festival exceeded expectations! I don’t know about Edtech space, but the standard of what you did, I think (children from) the 52 African countries deserve to have access to this type of event. One of my babies flew a drone! Our ears are almost blocked because she can’t stop sharing her experience and excitement it was a wholesome experience!”
The event culminated in the thrilling Gradely tablet launch, where over 40 participants competed to win a Gradely tablet each hour. Tomiwa Oduyemi emerged the first winner.
Boye Oshinaga of Gradely said, “The rise of the digital age has made science, technology, engineering and mathematics education more critical than ever. STEM concepts help children develop new ways of thinking, encouraging curiosity and analysis, and establishing these at an early age when young minds are most malleable establishes lifelong thinking skills.
Titi Adewusi, co-founder of 9jakids, one of the organisers, said, “STEM Africa Fest is more than just an event; it’s a movement to equip African children with the skills they need to thrive in a technology-driven world. We are grateful to our sponsors and partners for making this possible.”
As part of its commitment to empowering the next generation of African innovators and problem-solvers, the upcoming events in Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Kenya promise to build on the success of Lagos and Abuja shows, bringing the wonders of STEAM to even more African children.