After fifty-six days (56) of teaching, and inspiring students to understand, learn, and design robotics, the University of Lagos has drawn to a close one of its impactful service to the community at a well-attended event on Friday, August 25, 2023.
The event tagged “Coding & Robotics Summer School for Junior and Secondary Schools Students 2023” was hosted by the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics and Laboratory (AIRHub/aIROL) at the D. K Olukoya Central Research Laboratory. It provided a platform for elementary and secondary-level pupils to express their skills, knowledge, and creativity through conceptualizing, designing, and programming.
Participants were also guided on ways to use the ultra-sonic sensors, actuators, communication devices, and power devices to assemble different components and build robots by using customized kits provided in the camp. The students were grouped into a team of two at the primary level and four at the junior and secondary levels. They made presentations, performed obstacles, and participated in a debate competition to the delight of friends, and families at the Closing Ceremony.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the over-six-week summer school, Convener, Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo, highlighted the importance of the programme and its recorded achievements since it commenced training in 2018. She explained the functionalities of robots as well as their importance in areas of surveillance and security among others.
Dr. Yinka-Banjo, also emphasized the need for support for the program, for it to be able to accommodate more participants. She averred that the closing ceremony gave parents the opportunity to see the children’s projects.
Her words, ‘’This summer school has become a platform that helps those willing to know more about Robotics. I must say we are making a huge progress in all of this; however, our major challenge is the issue of sponsorship. With the popularity of this programme soaring, we are due to take it higher than this, in order for us to accentuate our empowerment initiative’’.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics and Research, Professor Bola Oboh observed that the past few years have been remarkable with the university at the forefront of reshaping the scope of learning in line with modern-day realities.
According to her, the institution has set in motion an innovative wheel aimed at equipping students with future-ready skills, up-to-date knowledge, and relevant training to boost their capacity. She cited the university’s ongoing partnership with Coursera, noting that it has attracted active participation by staff and students.
Similarly, she was of the opinion that the summer school has had an overall impact on the orientation of young innovators in learning coding, science, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while developing their social-emotional and communication skills.
The students and their respective tutors under the program received certificates at the end of the ceremony.
This year’s Coding & Robotics Summer School for Junior and Secondary Schools Students which commenced on Saturday, July 1, 2023, is in partnership with CODERINA Education and Technological Foundation as wewll as Funmi Ayinke Foundation.
