As the STEAM CAMP Project enters its third week, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Women Affairs Secretariat, has called for increased collaboration to ensure inclusive education for Nigerian children. The Mandate Secretary of the Secretariat, Hon. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, made this appeal during the opening ceremony of the Peace Institute STEAM Camp Project in the Gwako community of Gwagwalada Area Council.
In a statement by the Deputy Director of Information and Head of Public Relations for the Secretariat, Josie Mudasiru, Benjamins-Laniyi encouraged the children participating in the camp to stay attentive during lessons. She expressed that her greatest reward would be seeing the children become her “trophies and Shining Stars.”
Benjamins-Laniyi explained that STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. She likened the children to steam, which she described as a powerful yet intangible force. “We want you to become hot, like steam. Can you hold steam? Today, Steam is connecting with a dream in you because everyone has a dream,” she added.
The Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat, Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawole, expressed his enthusiasm for the program’s progress, noting that the STEAM Camp Project was created to provide opportunities for those at the grassroots and the less privileged to learn new skills. Kolawole emphasized that the project was specifically designed for individuals who may never have imagined such opportunities, which is why the camp is being held in rural communities.
He mentioned that the Camp Project began in Karu, moved to Kagini, and has now reached Gwako, with plans to expand to other communities in Abaji, Kwali, and Kuje Area Councils. According to Kolawole, feedback from the children and communities has been overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the significant impact of the program on the children, who have learned things they once thought were beyond their reach.
Professor Hauwa Ibrahim, Coordinator of the Peace Institute and a Professor at the University of Rome, also spoke to the children. She shared her own story of humble beginnings as a hawker, encouraging the children that they, too, can achieve their dreams if they remain focused and work hard. “If that little girl who used to hawk is now a Professor, then you also can do it,” she said.