The third edition of the STEAM Fun Fest, held on July 22nd, 2023, proved to be a resounding success, captivating the hearts and minds of thousands of young innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders. This extraordinary event, organized by the visionary collaboration of Titi Adewusi (9ijakids), Jadesola Adedeji (STEM METS), Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu (Edufun Technik), Wale Ogunjobi (Sabiteach), Kunmi Adenipebi (Gamr), and Bukola Akingbade (Kucheza), truly lived up to its reputation as the largest STEAM festival on the continent, igniting a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) among the youth.
The main objective of the STEAM Fun Fest is to empower the next generation with the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the future of work and the digital age. During the event, over 4000 attendees had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a diverse array of STEAM activities, ranging from robotics, game design, virtual reality, and 3D modelling to animation, graphics design, and science experiments. The festival aimed to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and the power of collaboration, all while inspiring a love for STEAM education among children ages 7-15 years.
The event kicked off with a keynote by Iyin Aboyeji (CEO, Future Africa) who said that the purpose of STEAM education is for young minds who have STEAM knowledge in their individual fields to collaborate to provide a solution to social problems that affect real people rather than keeping the knowledge/ skills to themselves. There were other panel sessions from industry experts which included Malik Afegbua CEO of Slick City, Bode Abifarin CEO of Flutterwave, Oreoluwa Lesi Founder WTEC, Lanre Bamisebi, ED, Access Corporation and Jola Aderemi-Makinde, Google amongst others.
This year’s event included new additions to the program such as a STEAM Competition Pitch and a Tech Career Corner where children had one on one chats about tech careers with professionals from top tech companies like Interswitch, MainOne, Jumia, Utiva, Flutterwave, and AltSchool. For the STEAM Competition Pitch, six finalists made up of children ages 9 -15 years pitched to a panel of judges the solutions to tackle problems with regard to Recycling, Environment, Sustainability, and Renewable Energy. Kamdilichukwu Chukwuneta, a 9-year-old boy from Grace Saint School, Ikorodu, emerged as the STEAM Competition winner, taking home a brand-new laptop and a cash prize of N400,000.
Throughout the day, the venue buzzed with a plethora of exciting activities – STEAM labs, Esport zone, drone soccer, and over 30 STEAM exhibitors. The STEAM Labs introduced children to Coding, Engineering, Robotics, Science Experiments, Animation, UI/UX design, AI Tools, and Game Development.
The organizers extend heartfelt gratitude to the incredible sponsors: Access Bank, Argentil Capital, Lotus Bank, Flutterwave, Kibo, Flour Mills, The Place Restaurant, Hyde Energy, A.G Leventis, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), and MTN. The STEAM Funfest 2023 was made possible by your unwavering support.
As the curtain falls on STEAM Fun Fest 2023, its impact resonates far beyond the event day. The passion for STEAM education instilled in young hearts, combined with the relentless pursuit of innovation and learning, ensures that Nigeria's future will be brighter, bolder, and filled with endless possibilities.
Let's continue to celebrate and support initiatives like STEAM Fun Fest, as they inspire and equip Africa's young innovators to shape the future for generations to come.
