Vodacom steps up support for Nigeria’s IT education, trains students in robotics
Leading pan-African corporate connectivity and telecommunications services giant, Vodacom Business Nigeria, has boosted its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria keeps pace with the evolution of telecommunications technologies.
This is coming on the heels of the second edition of its annual Inter-School Robotics Training Workshop for students across select Lagos Secondary Schools.
In his remarks at the training inspired by the globally trending paradigm shift to Science-technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM), the Managing Director for Vodacom Business Nigeria, Wale Odeyemi noted that “As an organization, our aim is to help empower the next generation, with relevant technical skills in order to drive positive change in the Nigerian economy through the use of communications technologies.”
He argued that “As the world progresses further into the fourth industrial revolution, there has never been a better time to infuse some much needed STEM training in the education sector through such initiatives as the annual Inter-School Robotics Training initiative. This initiative further demonstrates Vodacom’s support for education at the grass root level to encourage further budding of aspiring youths who are interested in participating in the digital revolution.
Among the schools that participated in the one-day workshop were; Dansol High School, Avi-Cenna, Holy Child College, Edgewood College, and Adrao International School. Others were; Rainbow College, Greensprings International School, D-Ivy College, Halifield College and Chrisland College. The participating students ages 12 to 15, received firsthand opportunities to immerse themselves in the complexities that surround the Internet of Things (IoT) and how these will shape society in the near future.
Business Hilights gathered that as part of the programme, students were taught how to build, program, and control various kinds of robots which are being used to perform numerous functions in today’s world. This demonstrated the essential use cases of such technologies in everyday life, ranging from manufacturing to transportation, as far as even securing lives and property.
The inter-School Robotics Training Workshop provided participants the opportunity to explore various ways in which technology is shaping the world around them. The training covered areas such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IOT) and Virtual Reality (V.R.). The students were also equipped with useful mechanical and programming skills which can be honed and developed as they progress through the various levels of education. Edgewood College Lekki came top in the competition that took place after the training, while Holy Child College Obalende and ADRAO International School, Victoria Island were first and second runners-up respectively.
Participants at the workshop commended Vodacom for introducing them to the world of robotics as this has opened them to the opportunities that lie ahead in the future.
One student from Edgewood College, Josephine Aghedo in his assessment, noted that “I found the workshop educative and inspiring. It has given me a glimpse about what being a computer engineer means and how I can help the world with knowledge gained, thanks to Vodacom for this great opportunity.”
It would be recalled that Vodacom Business Nigeria recently partnered with eBusiness Life Limited for the 2019 edition of the International Girls in ICT Day Celebration held at the Oriental Hotel Lagos.
Girls in ICT Day is an initiative of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) designed to sensitize young girls on the need to take up careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
Recall that Vodacom Business works in partnership with the continent’s largest businesses in sectors including oil and gas, retail, banking, mining, distribution, and tourism; helping them stay connected across Africa, and to the rest of the world.
Vodacom Business’ core infrastructure connects over 580 million people, across more than 40 African countries and includes over 50 satellite transponders, 24 dedicated teleports, and access to multiple sub-sea cable landing ports. By utilizing on-the-ground support, Vodacom Business provides system integration and maintenance, high-speed Internet services, Pan-African data networks, enterprise voice, wireless broadband, and international VPNs.
Vodacom Business’ mission is to build the future of African communications through continued investment in infrastructure, products, and services, creating the best value for its customers and the communities in which it operates.
