The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) has organized a statewide sensitization training for secondary schools in Bayelsa State with the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Innovators: NACETEM’s Educational Outreach Programme for Secondary Schools.”
The event, which took place on Friday at the Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali Conference Hall, Federal Secretariat, Oxbow Lake, Yenagoa, brought together students, educators, and stakeholders to engage with new ideas on technology, innovation, and digital skills development.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Abdulmalik Usman Bello urged students to embrace innovation with curiosity and critical thinking. He explained that asking relevant questions and seeking practical solutions to challenges are the first steps to creating impactful ideas. “Innovation begins with a problem properly understood and a willingness to provide practical answers,” he stated.
In a complementary session, Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello gave a detailed lecture on the intersections of technology and engineering. He equipped participants with insights into real-world applications of emerging tools and guided students through interactive demonstrations. The practical exercises, including the use of technological tools such as the picker, helped deepen the students’ understanding of innovation and problem-solving.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle E. Emelah, was represented by Dr. Alatimiboere Alem Enaregha, Director of Science, Technology, Higher Education, and E-Learning at the Ministry of Education. In her remarks, she commended NACETEM for organizing what she described as a forward-looking initiative.
According to her, the training is in line with the Ministry’s vision to reposition education through science, technology, and innovation. She noted, “The future belongs to those who can apply knowledge creatively. Initiatives like this could ignite the spark of innovation in young people.”
A panel discussion featuring Mr. Stephen Osho, South-South Zonal Coordinator of NACETEM, and Dr. Enaregha explored the latest technological trends and how students can use them for academic and entrepreneurial growth. The panelists encouraged participants to take ownership of their learning and to see technology as a vital tool for problem-solving and societal advancement.
Other notable attendees at the event included Hon. Marshal Abraham Esq., Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Bayelsa, Mr. Collins Kanu, Director of HRM, NACETEM, Engr. Godgift Ebe, Director of Planning, NACETEM, Engr. Seigha Guinus, HOD Training, NACETEM, and Mr. Sam Opeyemi of Next Level Modern Engineering Innovation.
Secondary schools that participated included Baptist Comprehensive School, BDGS, AKIA Agbara Kenny Anointed International, Spring International, Saith Ajayi International, St. Judas Girls Secondary School, AMIST Ayama, Motosori International Tombia, Ayakpo School, GSS Toru-Ebeni, and CCSS Biogbolo.
At the close of the programme, several students expressed excitement about the hands-on learning, noting that the training expanded their vision of technology’s role in education, entrepreneurship, and nation-building. NACETEM reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and technological literacy among young people in Bayelsa State, preparing them to thrive in a fast-evolving digital economy.