Promoting STEM Education in Rural Public Schools in Nigeria and Beyond

A few years ago, a trend started in Nigeria, encouraging young people to give up on school and chase quick ways to make money instead. Known as "School na Scam", this idea quickly spread across the streets, boosted by the Nigerian Afrobeat music scene and social media. It became popular among the youth, showing just how fed up many were with the poor state of Nigeria’s schools and economy. Sadly, this harmful belief took root, and many young people, drawn in by the promise of easy money, turned away from education and got involved in cybercrime and online frauds. The young people hit hardest by this message are probably those living in rural areas, where poor schooling and poverty are common.

As an organisation committed to fostering sustainable development in Africa through research and innovation, Research Awake Africa Initiative (RAAI) views the current anti-education movement as a serious threat to Nigeria’s future and Africa at large. Education forms the backbone of the world’s most prosperous and developed economies. As a developing nation, Nigeria cannot afford to lose its young population to propaganda. Therefore, RAAI outlines a plan to counter the anti-education movement among the youth, who represent the hope for Nigeria’s development.

Starting with the rural Orlu community, we plan to run education outreach events with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in two public schools – Ojike Memorial Secondary School and Girls’ Secondary School. These events will feature engaging and inspiring talks, including a hands-on demonstration of the coordinator’s doctoral research on metal-based bonding systems for sensors, as well as mentorship sessions and the distribution of free study materials to approximately 200 students.

We aim to spark interest and motivation in these students by sharing the story of the project coordinator—how he rose from a challenging start in the same community to conducting doctoral research overseas. Our vision is to present these students with compelling examples of the value of diligence in education from their community, countering the anti-education narrative that could jeopardise their future.