Hot brains Single Mothers in STEM Education

It was early morning rush for work for one of my radio show presentation and school some months back in my rural community in Nigeria. As I was rushing to catch my taxi along the muddy water logged community where I was working then, I passed through a High school with students also rushing to school.

As I was about to cross the road, I saw this young boy pushing his bicycle and sweating profusely as early as 7am. I took one look at him and something in me made me to stop him because, I was also intrigued by what he was carrying on his bicycle, which i later discovered was his school project.

That day, he was going to do his presentation and submission so I guess the anxiety of the presentation got to him that made him to be sweating that much. Another thing that attracted me to stop him was how decent and clean his school uniform was.

When I stopped him, my interview instinct took over and i wanted to know exactly what he was carrying on his bicycle to school was. He humbly explained to me what his project was all about and, for the first time, i discovered that was the same way our electricity are wired but what he had was just the smaller version of the technology that gives us electricity.

Something made me asked him about the cost of constructing the project and how he got the money to do it. He told me the cost which as now must have increased due to the way things are in Nigeria. I asked her who gave her money for the project, he told me his mother, who is a single mother.

This Single mother did not just understand the importance technology, she also wanted her son to be a success by supporting him with money and making sure he completed his electricity project in time.

Ofcourse after interviewing him, I also took some pictures of him with the hope of getting back to him whenever I get good sponsor for him to further his technology skills.

In my Humanitarian advocacy, I have different categories of empowerment and technology is included.

In 2023/2024, I used my resources to organize FREE remote technology skills workshop for women all over the world and it was a great success. I had my trainers/trainees from all parts of the world.

In this Initiative of my Impact Lab, I am revisiting the technology skills training of the- Agwamma Women outreach Africa by using this young boy's mother's determination for her son as my case study.

I am not a STEM Education expert but I have a partner in Nigeria who is a Science Genius. She is a Mathematics, Physics teacher and a very hard working single mother who has committed her time to help me reach out to, as much single mothers and their children as possible in Nigeria learn the basics of STEM Education.

We have mapped out our teaching/learning workshop strategies and will be taking our time to enroll a total of 500 Single mothers and their children from ages of 15+ who are interested to learn how to use/utilize the knowledge of STEM Education in their lives and the lives of others living in their environment.

It will interest those of you who don't know much about Nigeria that, the country still suffer from epileptic power supply and most citizens use a power generator both at home, work, market place.

Why is Nigeria not looking into solar system with the intense sun that burn people's skin year round?

I didn't want to caption this initiative as a Solar project but there is no way we can finish Educating the single mothers and their children on STEM EDUCATION without bringing in Solar energy in a country like Nigeria.

So, this is a very interesting initiative that will be unfolding gradually depending on the public support we get.

Getting the single mothers and their children to join this training would be intriguing because, most singlemoms are ridiculed in Nigeria for being single. This initiative will not just empower them to learn about how electricity &Solar energy are interwoven but it will boost their self confidence that, they can be productive citizens despite what the culture and society thinks of them as losers.

The location I met the boy is different from my own location but luckily, he stays in the same location with my STEM Education Teacher/Expert. So I have decided to also launch the initiative in that same location I met him and not the city I am Presently living.

Most people hear about STEM Education and it sounds strange to them but what they don't know is that, it involves everything about our lives and environment. The fear of science has also made a lot of people shy aware from using STEM Education to enrich and make their lives easier and comfortable. This project also be a welcome call for some of our teenagers who thought science is a fairytale.

Like what that little boy, if their main electricity at home goes of, his electricity project can give them light with him fixing some electric bulb for some days. Trainees can also use that project board to charge their phones as well. That is the power of technology no matter how small it is, it touches our lives in diverse ways.

Since this portal does not support videos, I will post my interview with that boy in my Instagram page.

www.instagram.com/agwammawomen.

Thank you for Reading!!