Interswitch Partners Slum2Schools to Provide STEM and Innovation Lab for Makoko Kids

Interswitch Limited, a foremost digital payment company, has partnered with Slum2School, a Lagos-based NGO to build a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and innovation lab at the Anglican Primary School in the Makoko area of Lagos State.

Related Post: #InterswitchSPAK: Making STEM Education a Priority in Nigeria

Born out of the the goal to build skills and talents around quality STEM education, the ‘Slum2School STEM and innovation lab’, according to The Punch, was powered by Interswitch laboratory and fitted with over 50 computers to enable children in that area access to quality learning.

@Slum2School’s 1st STEM and Innovation Lab powered by @Interswitch has been commissioned to nurture the potentials of our children and cater for the growing needs of our global community.#Slum2School #STEMeducation #SwitchAFuture pic.twitter.com/7jGsZ5d2mA

— Slum2School Africa (@Slum2School) May 20, 2018

Speaking on the innovation, the founder of Slum2School, Mr. Otto Orondaam said:

We at Slum2School have a vision to transform society by empowering disadvantaged children to realise their full potential. Our goal is to see how we can support the government. In the past, we donated a sickbay, an e-library and child development centres that have so far trained over 500 pupils. Now, the partnership with Interswitch is to bring innovation connected to STEM, which Interswitch has shown that they are passionate about.

Mr. Otto added that Slum2School has provided scholarships and various learning centers to over 1,000 children from the Makoko community which shows its commitment to providing quality education to children in other slums and remote communities across Africa.

Thank you @Slum2School and @InterswitchGRP for the commissioning of the STEM & Innovation Lab to give the children of Makoko slum a future.#Slum2School #SwitchAFuture@Otto_Orondaam @Hasshabie@felabankolemoh @osaelagos pic.twitter.com/GcZJp7tKqn

— SurprisingLagos #MyLagosHustle #MadeInLagos (@SurprisingLagos) May 18, 2018

The Group Chief Product Marketing Officer of Interswitch, Cherry Eromosele also said:

So, we believe that the innovation laboratory is going to help us to shape the next generation of doctors, engineers and even the Facebook CEO type of leaders in the near future. Having this laboratory in a community that we consider greatly under-served, we believe, will go down in history that a corporate organisation has been motivated by the desire to drive quality education in Nigeria, to support an under-served part of society.

https://twitter.com/Hilsneurone/status/997173793343901701

Located in the coast of mainland Lagos, Makoko is a community of over a hundred thousand people whose prominent occupation is fishing, and where access to quality STEM education is unavailable. This is definitely one of the reasons why Interswitch and Slum2School decided to launch the lab to remind everyone that every child irrespective of their socio-economic class should have access to quality education and a platform to work towards their dreams.