By Emma Peter, Abuja
In an era when science, technology, engineering and mathematics are increasingly shaping the future of societies, the need to expose young people to these fields early cannot be overemphasised.
It was against this backdrop that the First Lady of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Abigail Daniel Nuhu, introduced the STEM Kwali 2026 Initiative, a pioneering programme designed to stimulate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics among senior secondary school students in the area council.
The maiden programme, which featured a science quiz, debate competition, educational excursion and environmental activities, culminated in a grand finale at the Kwali Town Hall on September 5, 2026. The initiative brought together students, teachers, education stakeholders, traditional rulers, government officials, parents and other dignitaries in a celebration of learning, creativity and youthful potential.
At the heart of the initiative is a deliberate attempt to challenge a perception that has discouraged some young people from pursuing science-related careers — the belief that science education and professional careers in medicine, engineering, technology and other technical fields are reserved for children from wealthy families.
Delivering her welcome address, Hon. Abigail Daniel Nuhu challenged students and parents to reject that mindset, stressing that a child’s background should not determine the height of his or her ambition.
“You should not allow your gender to determine your ambition. We want to see our daughters becoming scientists, nurses, engineers, doctors, technologists, among others.”
The First Lady also challenged the perception that science is only for children from wealthy families, encouraging students to pursue their ambitions through determination, hard work and genuine interest.
She urged parents to create an environment where children can discover their abilities and pursue careers based on their interests and potential.
While making a strong case for STEM education, she was careful to emphasise that promoting science should not diminish the importance of other professions.
According to her, careers in law, the arts, banking, business and other disciplines are equally important, and parents should allow their children to make informed choices about their future.
The initiative was therefore presented not simply as a competition but as an effort to broaden the aspirations of young people and demonstrate that educational opportunities should not be determined by gender or family background.
As part of the programme, students and teachers embarked on an educational excursion to the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO).
The field trip was designed to expose the participants to practical applications of science and technology beyond the conventional classroom environment.
For the organisers, the excursion was more than a recreational visit. It was an opportunity for students to see scientific research, innovation and technology in practice, interact with researchers and mentors, and begin to connect classroom knowledge with possible career pathways.
The experience also informed the initiative’s environmental component, with Kwali Area Council planning to replicate aspects of the greening model observed at SHESTCO through a tree-planting campaign in schools and communities.
The planned tree-planting programme is expected to contribute to environmental sustainability by increasing green cover, providing shade, helping to control erosion and promoting healthier communities.
The science quiz and debate were designed to test different but complementary skills among the participating students.
The quiz focused on students’ knowledge and understanding, as well as their speed, accuracy and ability to work under pressure.
The debate, on the other hand, provided an avenue for students to demonstrate critical thinking, reasoning, communication skills and the ability to engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints.
Four schools participated in the quiz category: Government Secondary School Bako, Government Secondary School Kwali, MTC International Model Science Academy, and Government and Technical College, Kwali.
In the debate category, Government Secondary School Piri and Government Secondary School Yangoji competed for honours.
The organisers stressed that participation and learning were as important as winning, urging the students to see the programme as an opportunity to build confidence and discover their capabilities.
At the end of the quiz competition, Government and Technical College, Kwali emerged as the winner and received a cash prize of ₦500,000, while Government Secondary School Bako received ₦300,000.
In the debate category, Government Secondary School Yangoji emerged victorious and went home with ₦400,000.
The competition formed part of a wider package reportedly backed by a ₦2 million cash prize fund, aimed at motivating students and rewarding excellence.
The programme also featured entertainment and cultural performances, adding colour to what was essentially an educational gathering.
For the Executive Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel, the programme represents an investment in the intellectual development of young people.
Speaking during an interview with journalists, the chairman assured residents that his administration would support and sustain initiatives that benefit the people, subject to the availability of resources.
“Whatever this administration is starting, we are going to continue with it.”
He cited the chairman’s Cup as an example of his administration’s commitment to youth-focused programmes, expressing his intention to make such initiatives annual during his tenure.
On the STEM programme specifically, the chairman explained that the initiative was conceived by his wife, while the council’s role was to provide support and complement her efforts.
He said the initiative would help encourage young people to develop interest in science-related courses and careers.
The chairman also acknowledged that continuity would depend partly on available resources, including federal allocations and internally generated revenue.
His personal experience has also influenced his commitment to education.
The chairman disclosed that he personally benefited from scholarships during his educational journey, an experience which motivates him to support younger students.
He pledged that students from Kwali Area Council would continue to benefit from scholarship opportunities.
The council, he added, is exploring partnerships with donors and seeking advice from former chairmen to develop opportunities that could enable students to pursue studies outside the country.
The First Lady’s motivation for establishing the STEM initiative is similarly rooted in her observations of the challenges confronting students.
She explained that the initiative followed observations that many students were reluctant to study science.
Among the barriers identified were concerns over school fees, textbooks, private tutoring and the general perception that pursuing science-related courses requires substantial financial resources.
She also expressed concern over the limited number of indigenous medical doctors from Kwali Area Council and said the programme was intended to encourage young people to consider medicine, engineering, research, technology and other science-based professions.
The organisers reached out across the area’s 10 political wards, requesting two students from each ward.
Although the broader plan was to achieve wider participation, six schools from six wards eventually participated in the maiden competition, producing 12 students for the contest.
The First Lady expressed the intention to make the initiative an annual programme, subject to God’s grace.
The broader objective is to build greater interest in science among young people and ultimately increase the number of indigenous professionals in science and technology-related fields.
Perhaps one of the most significant features of STEM Kwali 2026 is that the programme does not end with the presentation of trophies and cash prizes.
The organisers are attempting to create a broader ecosystem around education, environmental sustainability, mentorship and youth development.
The proposed tree-planting campaign is one example.
By linking STEM education with environmental responsibility, the initiative introduces students to the idea that knowledge must ultimately translate into solutions to real-life problems.
The programme also included recognition of individuals who have contributed to education, empowerment and the wellbeing of people in Kwali Area Council.
Awards were presented to the Executive Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Nuhu Daniel Kwali, Princess Huawa Aduda Philip, TPL Sadiq Abubakar and other distinguished individuals. The Itsu of Kwali was also among those recognised.
The awards served as an acknowledgement of the contributions of individuals and institutions to community development and educational advancement.
The chairperson of the occasion, Dr. Hajiya Bilkisu, commended the First Lady for the initiative and its potential to positively influence the educational choices of young people.
Education stakeholders also welcomed the programme.
Ibrahim Auyba, Head of Department, Social Mobilisation, Local Education Authority, commended the First Lady for creating a platform where students could demonstrate their abilities and encouraged continued support for initiatives that promote education.
A representative of the Education Secretary of Kwali Area Council also expressed support for the programme.
Abba Inuwa Hassan, representing the Director-General of SHESTCO, appreciated the organisers for the initiative and the effort to connect secondary school students with practical scientific knowledge.
The involvement of SHESTCO researchers, mentors, teachers, parents and other stakeholders further demonstrated the collaborative nature of the programme.
Beyond the competition itself, STEM Kwali 2026 offered students an opportunity to stand before an audience, answer questions under pressure, defend positions during debates and interact with professionals outside their normal classroom environment.
Such experiences can build confidence and help young people recognise abilities they may not have previously appreciated.
For teachers, the programme provides another platform to identify students with exceptional abilities and encourage them to develop those talents.
For parents, it provides an opportunity to reconsider assumptions about the fields their children can pursue.
And for the council, it offers a pathway to make education, youth development and environmental responsibility part of a wider community-development agenda.
The First Lady’s message to the students was ultimately a call to ambition and confidence: to think boldly, work hard and refuse to allow circumstances, gender or background to define their future.
The maiden STEM Kwali programme may have been conceived as a science quiz and debate competition, but its ambitions are considerably broader.
It seeks to challenge stereotypes, encourage girls, expose students to practical science, promote critical thinking, recognise educational champions, encourage environmental sustainability and inspire a new generation of professionals.
It also represents an emerging model of community-level intervention where government support, family leadership, schools, researchers, traditional institutions, parents and private supporters can converge around a common objective.
With the Executive Chairman pledging continued support and the First Lady expressing her intention to make the programme annual, STEM Kwali 2026 has the potential to grow beyond a one-off event.
Its real measure of success will ultimately not be the size of the cash prizes awarded at the grand finale, but the number of young people who, years from now, remember the programme as the moment they decided that science, technology, engineering or mathematics was a path they could confidently pursue.
