By Dipo Olowookere
In order to infuse robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) into the education of the Nigerian child, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has introduced an initiative called the Next Robotics Legend.
The first-of-its-kind robotics training and competition is for students aged 11 to 16 and will focus on identifying and nurturing young potential inventors and creators who will receive the necessary training to solve some of the challenges facing the Nigerian society with the aid of robotics and AI.
It was designed by Edu360, Union Bank’s education platform, in collaboration with Awarri, a pan-African technology company.
A statement from the lender explained that this idea was birthed from the realisation that the solutions to some of our most complicated problems as a nation lie in the education of children today.
To enter, an intending candidate will have to take a 30-second video explaining what he/she likes about robots. The video should then be uploaded on www.edu360.ng, with the parents filling the accompanying consent form.
Union Bank said entries will be received from August 7 to 2, 2020.
It was disclosed by the bank that 25 of the most creative and passionate entries will be selected to participate in the robotics training.
At the end of the free training programme, participants will be required to identify a need in their community, and apply the skills learnt to proffer a solution.
The student with the best solution will be admitted for a mentorship program with Awarri, the advanced AI and robotics company owned by Silas Adekunle, a top international robotics engineer renowned for creating the world’s first intelligent gaming robot.
According to the statement, schools are not left out and to ensure the sustenance of the initiative, Edu360 will partner with four secondary schools by providing robotics toolkits and training for their teachers to enable them to include robotics in their curriculum.
Modupe Gbadeyanka