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.”
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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)