Bishop Dimieri Grammar School, (BDGS), Yenagoa, has emerged winner of the 2024 Bayelsa Robotics Challenge.
By Nathan Nwakamma
Bishop Dimieri Grammar School, (BDGS), Yenagoa, has emerged winner of the 2024 Bayelsa Robotics Challenge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BDGS emerged overall winner in the contest that featured 12 boarding schools from the eight local government areas of the state.
The competition, sponsored by the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (BEDTF), involved the deployment of robots to solve problems.
The students demonstrated the ability of robots to predict flooding, give warning signals, evacuate victims, check vandalism, and undertake security surveillance among others.
At the end of the contest, Bayelsa Sport Academy, Asuama, came second while Ijaw National Academy, Kaima, took third position.
Dr Nimbofa Ayawei, the Secretary to the State Government, urged the contestants to take advantage of opportunities in technology to upgrade themselves.
Represented by Mr Anthony Howells, Ayawei said that the state was committed to harnessing the benefits of technology to uplift its education system.
He commended BEDTF for organising the competition, and described it as a good way of teaching the youths to deploy technology towards problem solving.
He urged the students to see beyond the contest, and harness opportunities available in the use of technology.
“Technology has a lot of opportunities waiting to be harnessed. It has become a key driver for economic growth.
“Given the importance of robotics, we cannot afford to take the back seat. We must come out to embrace it,” he said.
In his speech, Dr Gentle Emelah, the Commissioner for Education, reiterated the resolve of the state government to making Artificial Intelligence a part of the school curriculum.
Represented by the Permanent Sectary, Mr Okene Simon-Peters, Emelah urged students in the state to embrace extant technological tools to enhance learning skills.
Earlier, Dr Alice Atuwo, the Executive Secretary, BEDTF, said the students displayed an impressive performance during the contest.
She said that mastery of robotics technology would impact the students’ ability to solve problems in their immediate environment.
Master John Freedom, who spoke on behalf of Bishop Dimieri Grammar School’s Robotics Team, said the contest had exposed them to the rigours of robotic designs, assembly and deployment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by traditional rulers, political leaders, and education stakeholders in the state.
NAN further reports that the high point of the event was the presentation of trophies to the winning schools, and prizes to exceptional participants.(NAN)
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