… Senator Abiru reaffirms commitment to development of young talents
About sixty (60) students at the Government College Lagos (GCL) Surulere, who were trained in STEM Education for Senior Secondary School Students, at the school’s STEM Lab which was provided and equipped by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, showcased various thought-provoking innovations they developed as they completed their nine (9) weeks training. The training was facilitated by STEM Café, (an initiative of Co-Creation Hub (Cc-HUB), Nigeria’s leading innovation and technology hub) for SAIL Foundation.
On the Demo and graduation day, they displayed innovations they built before the Co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, the Chief Impact Officer, Mr. Deji Abisola, the Global President of the Government College Lagos Old Boys Association, Mr. Jibola Bakare, Tutor General/Permanent Secretary for Education District IV, Board Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Dr. Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, school management members and teachers, parents and top government functionaries.
In his keynote address titled “Empowering the Next Generation Through STEM Innovation,” Senator Abiru, an alumnus of Government College Lagos, described the occasion as a powerful demonstration of what is possible when stakeholders, particularly, public institutions, and private organizations come together to invest human capital development of young people.
“This Demo Day is not just ceremonial; it is a bold statement of what becomes achievable when we nurture curiosity and provide the tools to solve real-world problems,” Abiru said. “Our children are not just learning; they are building, experimenting, and stepping confidently into the future”, he added.
The newly built STEM lab, located within a legacy block in the school, was retrofitted and fully equipped by SAIL Foundation. It is part of a broader Innovation labs network that includes the iconic SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu, and SAIL Innovation and Sports Centre in Orimedu, Ibeju-Lekki, all designed to equip young people with 21st-century digital and tech skills.
Abiru revealed that the initiative aligns with one of the three pillars of his work as a senator, which are: Endowment, alongside Legislative duty and Facilitation & Empowerment. He explained that the STEM programme was designed to prepare young Nigerians for an increasingly digital and innovation-driven global economy.
“We are building platforms that give our children access to knowledge, mentorship, and modern learning spaces. The future belongs to those equipped with scientific literacy and digital competence,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr. Deji Abisola noted that the STEM Education programme extends beyond the current cohort at GCL. It is an ongoing initiative hosted at the SAIL Innovation Lab facility in Ikorodu, where students from ten (10) public secondary schools within its catchment area participate each term under the SAILors Programme. When the new school calendar resumes after the long break, the next cohorts at GCL and across all ten (10) schools will commence.
In his remarks, the vice-principal of the school, Mrs. Ngozi Eneje praised the collaborative efforts behind the initiative and lauded the commitment of Senator Abiru and the SAIL Foundation for their strategic investment in the lives of the students.
The Global President, GCLOBA, Mr. Jibola Bakare, expressed profound appreciation to Senator Abiru for his immense contributions to the growth and development of the school.
The event concluded with a guided tour of the STEM laboratory where guests witnessed first-hand the modern equipment and student-built projects on display.
Other eminent personalities and old boys of the school that witnessed the graduation ceremony include: Prof. Bankole Sodipo, SAN, Rear Admiral Leye Jaiyeola (Rtd), Mr. AA Akinajo, Mr. Akin Ogunmowo, Mr. Chief Operating Officer, CcHub, Mr. Timothy Aluko, among others.