An Igbo group, Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo), says that teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) using the mother tongue will advance Nigeria scientifically and technologically.
Mr Okoro Chinedum, Executive Director, OCHIE Igbo STEM school, made the ascertion on Thursday in Awka, to announce the inauguration of the committees for the development of the curriculum for STEM in Igbo language.
The OCHIE Igbo STEM Project is in collaboration with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
He said: “Great minds have always argued that the security and future of every society lies with the education of the children.
“Being intentional about internalizing the culture, values and tradition of a people and marrying same with science, technology, engineering and mathematics is the secret of the white man.
“The OCHIE Igbo STEM Project
was conceived in 2021, as a benign search to harness the gains associated with teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics in schools using the mother tongue.
“This is the framework that the Asian Tigers like Japan, Indian, China, Korean leveraged on to earn their deserved place in the world of science, innovation and information technology.
“If we do the same here, Nigeria will advance scientifically and technologically too,”
Also Speaking, Prof. Charles Esimone Vice-Chancellor, NAU, said teaching STEM in indigenous language would help preserve the culture and identity of the nation.
“No nation can advance scientifically except that the mode of instruction is done in their indigenous language.
“You see the development in China, Europe and other advanced countries, check well, the mode of instruction is in their indigenous language.
“So, Igbo language is not an exception. It is an old, ancient and very powerful language. If we follow what other advance countries have done, we are going to make advancement as a nation,” he said.
Esimone said that the university was collaborating on the OCHIE Igbo STEM project because it had the best human resources and machinery to run and actualise the project.
He said after the resource persons had developed the curriculum and framework, it would kick off in NAU and later domesticated in other tertiary Institutions, secondary and primary schools in other states.
The Coordination Committee for the project would be led by Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), NAU, with Okoro Chinedum as the Committee’s Co Chairman.
