By Perpetua Onuegbu/Funmilayo Adeyemi
Abuja – Prof. Anthony Anwukah, the Minister of State for Education, says digital age requires
quick thinkers to provide solutions to societal challenges facing the country.
The minister made the remark during National Children’s Quiz Competition organised by Miss Irene Onwuka,
a 2013 peace ambassador.
Represented by his Special Assistant Mr Frank Ijeoma, the minister said “the digital age speed is when things are expected
to move fast. Speed is what we need; we need greasy, fast speed.”
“We, therefore, need to nurture the intellect of our children for them to be quick thinkers and be prepared to provide
solutions to the challenges of our era expeditiously.
“In a global economy, growth and innovation demand skilled and engaged workforce. We, therefore, need to
provide our youths the skills to address this profound talent shortage.
“It will also enable young people to create their own jobs by partnering with industries to create, innovate, incubate
and disseminate new ideas and technologies.
“When we are committed to providing young people with knowledge, skills, confidence, empathy and compassion,
we will make the highest and best investment in our shared national and global future.”
Miss Irene Onwuka, the convener of the competition, reiterated her commitment to encourage the young ones to go
into science courses.
She said that the competition was the maiden edition but that more competitions would be
organised to galvanise students’ interest in sciences.
She added that “this edition of the competition started with Mathematics, Current Affairs, General Knowledge and
Spelling. We plan to include science and technology in subsequent editions.
“We want children out there to be part of science, so, it is a process. We are not going to rush it, we have started and
we want to continue.”
Onwuka, therefore, called for the support of stakeholders to achieve the aims, saying the
development of every country depended on the level of her technological advancement.
Meanwhile, 18 Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) participated in the competition.
Among them were JSS Kwali, JSS Gwagwalada, JSS Gwako, JSS Abaji, JSS Kuje, as well as JSS Wuse Zone 2 and JSS
Area 11, Abuja. (NAN)