ABUJA (Sundiata Scholar) – Lagos State has emerged the overall best state at the 27th Edition of the National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) competition in Abuja on Friday.
The state also won the best overall JETS award with 200 students from 20 states participating in the competition as well as the overall best in the quiz competition.
During the weeklong event, the students showcased their innovations which included an automatic fire detector and an online election application to enable voting from the diaspora.
They also showcased drone, a technology that would help address farmers and herders clashes in the country.
At the closing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, described technology and innovation as drivers for socio-economic growth and sustainability.
Sani-Gwarzo, represented by the Director, Technology and Science Education in the Ministry, Dr Muyibat Olodo, said Nigeria had the potential to achieve sustainable growth through technology.
He encouraged the students to continue to utilise their inherent talents for national development.
”As we conclude this innovative event, I feel rest assured that the future our students desire is certain.
”We live in an era where technology and innovation are not at the back seat of progress and development, but are important drivers for social economic growth and sustainable development.
”Today, we have experienced an outstanding creativity with in-depth innovation among the students, thereby proffering solutions in mass technology and sustainability in addressing the challenges of food security,” he said.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger state, Prof. Uno Uno, commended the significant growth of the competition since inception and called for collaboration with the private sector to promote the innovations.
“The purpose of this programme is to ensure that the children are exposed to technology, science, to bring innovation.
“Except we showcase what this children are doing, Nigeria is not going towards development. This is not to be left for the federal ministry of education alone.
“Let there be collaboration with stakeholders to lift this programme higher than this,’ ‘ he said.
Also, the Director of Science and Technology, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Grace Akinfoyiwa, who was elated, attributed the achievement of the Lagos team, to the dedication of the students and support from the state government.
”We thank God for seeing us this far in winning the 27th edition of the JETS competition and emerging as the overall best in the students competition.
”We thank our governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for being passionate about the children and rendering necessary support that we need,” she said.
reports that the theme for the competition was tagged: “Integrated Technologies for Sustainable Food Production and Security”.
JETS competition was inaugurated in 1988 to expose students to technology, with the aim of solving problems in the society. (NAN)
