The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government will sustain the investment in the state’s education sector, ensuring the right environment and infrastructure to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education so as to drive industrialization and sustainable socioeconomic development in the state.
Obaseki gave the assurance in commemoration of the 2023 World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, marked by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its partner agencies with the theme, “Engineering innovation for a more resilient world.”
The governor said his administration has invested hugely in the education sector, focusing on STEM education to groom and equip young people in the state with the knowledge and skills required to become leaders in the 21st-century economy.
Obaseki noted that this year’s celebration provides the opportunity to celebrate engineers around the world, especially female engineers who have distinguished themselves in the engineering profession, providing solutions to global problems.
He said, “As we commemorate this year’s World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, we celebrate the remarkable impact of engineering on our world and the role it plays in building a sustainable future. We also salute engineers all over the globe who are contributing to the advancement of society through their innovative work.”
Obaseki added, “As a government, we recognize that the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is critical to our economic growth and competitiveness as a state, and are committed to sustaining investment in this regard, guaranteeing the enabling environment and infrastructure in our drive for industrial and economic development in Edo State.
“Through ongoing reforms in our education sector which prioritizes technical education, we are nurturing a new crop of innovators and problem solvers and equipping our young people with the knowledge and skills they need to be leaders in the 21st-century economy. In Edo, we are not just producing more engineers, but are creating a workforce that is equipped to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
According to the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Audrey Azoulay, “Engineers, men and women, are constantly innovating to meet the challenges of our world. To build more inclusive growth, develop renewable energies, face climate change, and guarantee a fairer and more sustainable world, we need more than ever this scientific creativity at the service of all. That is what this World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development means, recognizing the magnitude of the contribution engineers make to our world and to the goals of the 2030 Agenda.”