The annual U-STEM competition, which started in 2021 was organised by the university for the pupils of some secondary schools in the area.
Fatusi, in his remarks, said the competition was organised by the varsity to enhance youth capacity for innovation and societal development, adding that the programme would provide seed funds to senior secondary school pupils in Ondo to use locally available materials to develop innovative products for the country.
According to the don, the future solution to the real life problems and challenges depends on STEM, hence the need to acquaint the younger ones to it.
He said, “We have organised this competition to give deserved attention to the STEM as we know that the future solutions to a lot of real life problems and challenges depend on it.
“We hope that this will also encourage our young ones to apply themselves to STEM field because not only is this is a way of finding solutions to problems and challenges, we also hope that this serves as a springboard to compete at various levels- state, federal and possibly International.
“In addition, we hope that this will serve as a platform to cultivate and nurture future scientists, inventors, engineers, and mathematicians, who will be connected to a bigger picture of problem-solving for business and industries in our nation and around the world.”
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Lola Amuda, described the programme as one of the cooperate social responsibilities of the university to the community.
Represented by the Zonal Officer of the ministry, Bunmi Ilori , the PS said the competition was improving the pupils in all ramifications and also contributing to the growth of education in the community.
Amuda urged the pupils to properly make use of the knowledge gathered in the competition for their betterment.
Ondo Boys High School emerged the winner of the 2022 edition of the competition.
