Port Harcourt, Nigeria – Rivers State has become the latest beneficiary of the INSPIRE (Innovation, STEM, and Partnership for Inclusive and Relevant Education) Project, a collaborative effort by ExxonMobil Foundation, Pan Africa Nigeria, and Tech Women Alumni Association to enhance STEM learning in underserved schools.
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Board, Acting Chairman Lady Timon Flora emphasized the need to maximize newly donated equipment.
*”The school board has been challenged. It’s not just about getting equipment but putting it to use,”* Flora stated. *”In this digital era, we must ensure every opportunity is well utilized.”*
Represented by the UBE Director, Special Programs Ala Atombere, she praised the organizers for selecting Rivers State and urged the teachers to cascade their training: *”We charge our students and trained teachers to share this knowledge. The board will ensure this program doesn’t die at this level.”*
Dr. Patrick Adah, Country Director of Pan Africa Nigeria, explained that the project aims to bridge resource gaps and ignite STEM interest.
*”We’ve donated lab equipment and trained 15 teachers in Rivers State, with similar programs in six states,”* said Adda. *”This is just the beginning, students will compete nationally in Abuja next January.”*
He noted strong government buy-in, with the Secondary Education Board Chairman in attendance, signaling state support.
For Community Secondary School, Olanada, the project is a lifeline. *Engineer Ejiro John, the state coordinator and a Tech Women Fellow, recounted how the school lacked math and science teachers before her intervention.
*”This school was practically dead,”* she said. *”After my Tech Women Fellowship, I pushed for its selection. Now, with approval from the Ministry of Education, we’re seeing change.”*
As one of only three Tech Women fellows in the South-South, Ejiro’s advocacy secured Olanada’s place among 14 schools nationwide.
The INSPIRE Project will culminate in a national STEM competition in January 2026, with Rivers State students expected to shine. Organizers hope the initiative will inspire careers in engineering, medicine, and tech.
*”We’re not just teaching STEM, we’re building Nigeria’s future innovators,”* Adda added.