Take Interest In Science Courses, Banigo Urges Students

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has stressed the need for students to take more interest in the study of science programmes and courses to accelerate the technological development of the state and nation.
Banigo stated this while speaking at the All-Female Science Quiz Competition for Senior Secondary Schools in Port Harcourt and Award of Scholarship by the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), Rivers State Chapter at the Amphitheatre of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt.
Represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Social Media, Miss Uki Asemota, Banigo, said for any nation to develop technologically, both policy makers and the citizens must embrace science and technology studies.
She expressed delight that women were now being encouraged to excel in their chosen careers, especially in the area of science and technology to enable them contribute their quota to national growth and development.
“Our girls have been faced with multiple challenges in their effort to assert themselves and contribute meaningfully and make a difference in the society which they function. Therefore, we must support the efforts of these young minds, and also prove to them that they have all it takes to achieve the highest of goals in the society,” Banigo stated.
The deputy governor explained that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics were the driving force of every developing nation, contending that the political leadership and Nigerians must strive to proffer solutions to the problem of technological advancement facing the country.
She noted that the quest to diversify the nation’s economy would be achieved if science and technology were given the desired attention, and restated the commitment of the Wike-led administration in the provision of sustainable education infrastructure that would enhance teaching and learning, especially for the girl-child .
Banigo, who opined that science remains the only solution to overcoming the problem of electricity, agriculture and infrastructural adequacies in the country, commended the association for its role in encouraging the girl-child to embrace science-related courses.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Blessing Didia, represented by a former deputy vice chancellor, Prof. Howells Hart, called for greater advocacy on the part of women to ensure that students, especially girls take more interest in science-based programmes.
Earlier, the state Chairman of the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria, Engr. Antonia Ohagwa, said the programme was put in place to encourage the girl-child take up science-related courses and eliminate the fear associated with Mathematics and other Science courses.
Ohagwa commended the state government for the support, urging participants to see the competition as a learning process towards improving their intellectual capacity.
Highlight of the occasion was the award of a Master’s Degree scholarship to Miss Agbor Yihiedin Samuel, a female student of RSUST who emerged the best Marine Engineering graduate for the 2015/2016 Academic Session.