Abuja – The Federal Ministry of Education has called for an increased investment in the study and practice of sciences across all African countries.
Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, made the call at the opening of the Pan-African Science Olympiad in Abuja on Monday.
Abdullahi, represented by Dr Rosetta Isiavwe, the Director, Technology and Science Education in the ministry, said investment in sciences would encourage the services of indigent scientists to remain and develop Africa.
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“For Africa to keep abreast with global trends of technology advancement, and perhaps in solving its multifarious problems, efforts must be geared towards science education research and development.
“This, I believe is the bedrock for national development; the very existence of any area of human endeavour is based on Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences.
“It is an established fact that sustained public investments in science in the developed nations do generate impressive returns.
“It is therefore the lack of investments that rub Africa of her scientists who feel alienated from their own societies and that’s why they are trade elsewhere; hence people erroneously view science as the product of the industrlaised world.’’
Earlier, Prof. Adewale Solarin, the Director and Chief Executive Officer, National Mathematical Centre,organisers of the event, said other competitions were incorporated into the programme.
These, he said, were the maiden edition of the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls (PAMO-G) and the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO).
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“Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad, this is the 23rd Edition. We needed to do something with the girl child and we put a proposal to start the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls.
“And I am happy that today, we are witnessing the maiden edition of this wonderful move to follow the trend in other parts of the world.
“Some years ago, three or four years ago, the European Communities started the European Girls Mathematical Competition and so we are here to back the Pan-African Olympiad for Girls.
“So, we have three in one–Pan African Science Olympiad, Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad and Pan African Mathematics Olympiad for Girls.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the 17 African countries which indicated interest in the 2015 edition of the competition, only 10 countries were present at the opening.
They are; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia.
Participants are to compete in different science examinations all week to determine winners for the three competitions at the end of the week. (NAN)