FCT UBEB PROMOTES INNOVATION AS YOUNG SCIENTISTS SHINE AT 16TH JETS COMPETITION
…As JSS Garki Area 11 student emerges overall best in Mathematics
By: Prudence Okonna
The Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs through science, technology and engineering education.
This is as pupils from public and private schools showcased outstanding inventions at the 16th edition of the Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) held at the FCT-UBEB Centre for Science, Technology and Innovative Training in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The annual competition, which brought together pupils from primary and junior secondary schools across the six Area Councils of the FCT, featured mathematics and basic science quizzes, scientific exhibitions and entrepreneurship projects designed to encourage problem-solving, creativity and innovation among young learners.
The Acting Chairman of FCT UBEB, Florence Wenegieme, described the JETS programme as a strategic initiative aimed at reorienting children towards science-based education while equipping them with entrepreneurial skills from an early age.
The acting Chairman who was represented by the Director of Physical Planning and Project Monitoring, Architect Mansour Mohammed Sule, said the competition aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Administration’s drive to produce a generation of young innovators capable of creating solutions to national challenges rather than depending solely on government employment.
According to her, many of the pupils had already developed practical products with commercial potential, including solar-powered spraying machines, security devices and water purification systems.
“We are producing pupils who will champion entrepreneurship, engineering and technology nationwide. If these children continue to receive the necessary support, many of the products we currently import could eventually be produced locally,” She said.
Wenegieme commended the impressive performance of public schools, noting that they dominated several categories and carted away numerous trophies and medals during the competition.
She called on the private sector to partner with government by investing in young innovators, describing industry players as critical stakeholders in sustaining science and technology education.
“The private sector must key into this initiative because they are partners in development. They have an important role to play in taking these innovations beyond the classroom,” She added.
Also speaking, the Director of Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at FCT UBEB, Nkechinyere Nwachukwu, said the competition was designed to catch children young by exposing them to science, innovation and entrepreneurship at the foundational stage of education.
She explained that before the grand finale, UBEB officials conducted competitions across all six Area Councils—Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali—to ensure equal participation for pupils across the territory.
Nwachukwu said the board had established science and technology desks in the Area Councils and regularly trained teachers to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education
She noted that observations from this year’s competition indicated the need to strengthen mathematics teaching and disclosed that the board planned to organize additional capacity-building programmes for mathematics teachers.
The director expressed delight at the increased participation of private schools in this year’s competition, saying it would provide an opportunity to compare performances and improve learning outcomes across both public and private institutions.
She also appealed for increased funding and greater private sector involvement to support young inventors and transform their ideas into viable innovations.
“Our children have brilliant ideas, but many of them lack the resources to develop them. Government and the private sector must provide the enabling environment for these ideas to flourish,” she said.
Earlier, the FCT JETS Coordinator, Idris Ibrahim, described the programme as a talent discovery initiative aimed at popularising Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education among pupils in both public and private schools.
He explained that the competition targets pupils in Primary Five and Six as well as students in Junior Secondary School Two and Three, with winners progressing to the national level to compete against their counterparts from other states.
Ibrahim said the programme also integrates entrepreneurship education to prepare learners for self-reliance long before they complete higher education
Among the innovations that attracted attention were a smart home security system developed by pupils of a private school and an agricultural project designed to reduce stress in poultry farming.
He urged relevant government agencies and industry stakeholders to support the development and commercialization of such innovations.
The winner in the Mathematics Quiz Competition, Akinyele Esther, a JSS Three student of Junior Secondary School described the experience as exciting and rewarding, saying teamwork and confidence helped her overcome difficult questions during the contest.
She noted that the competition provides children with an opportunity to showcase their talents and develop greater interest in mathematics and science.
