By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The science and technology landscape in Nigeria is set to receive a boost with the debut of SPAK National Science Competition.
SPAK National Science Competition is a unique initiative aimed at igniting interest and promoting the study of science in secondary schools in Nigeria.
The SPAK National Science Competition is strictly for students currently in the second year of their Senior Secondary School (SSS2) students aged 14 to 17.
Over 10,000 students from about 2,000 senior secondary schools across Nigeria have already registered for the opportunity of taking part in the show. The Spak National Science competition will kick off with a written examination scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 1, 2017, across 19 states in the federation.
According to Mr Oladapo Ojo, the creator of the show, the science competition is geared towards promoting sound education for science students in Nigerian secondary schools.
He said, “The SPAK National Science competition was designed to use the audio visual medium to remove the myths surrounding science and technology and also rekindle interest in this area of education which is perceived as difficult to study.
“SPAK is a science based television quiz show and the most contemporary of its kind in Nigeria.”
He added that the unique learning programme has gotten the support of the National Examination Council (NECO).
Mr Ojo further stated that the elements of entertainment will be infused in the SPAK National Science competition to engender more viewership.
Other sets of viewers who will find the show more interesting are parents, teachers as well as other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s science and technology learning environment.
To participate in the science and technology competition, interested schools are to register six of their most intelligent students in sciences, irrespective of sex, religion, tribe or state of origin, for the first round of the competition. The advertised website is www.spak.ng.
Only 81 students will be eligible to proceed to the second round of the competition.
Mr Ojo further stated his belief that, “This initiative will not only create an enabling environment for the growth of science and technology in Nigeria, it will also play a major role in placing the Nigerian student on the same pedestal with their mates across the world.”