Over sixty senior secondary students of Government College Lagos (GCL), Surulere, recently took center stage to exhibit a range of inventive solutions and technological prototypes developed during a comprehensive nine-week STEM training program.
The initiative, held within the school’s state-of-the-art STEM Laboratory, was powered by the SAIL Empowerment Foundation and implemented by STEM Café, a program under the Co-Creation Hub (Cc-HUB), Nigeria’s foremost innovation accelerator.
The Demo Day also served as the students’ graduation from the training, and was attended by key dignitaries including the Co-founder of the SAIL Empowerment Foundation and Senator representing Lagos East, Distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA. Present alongside him were Mr. Deji Abisola, Chief Impact Officer of SAIL Foundation; Mr. Jibola Bakare, Global President of the Government College Lagos Old Boys Association (GCLOBA); Dr. Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, a Board Member of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) and Tutor General/Permanent Secretary for Education District IV; as well as the school’s leadership, faculty, parents, and senior government officials.
In his keynote presentation titled “Empowering the Next Generation Through STEM Innovation,” Senator Abiru — a proud alumnus of Government College Lagos — emphasized the power of public-private collaboration in unlocking the potential of young minds.
“This is more than just a ceremonial gathering,” he said. “Today’s event is a living testament to what can be accomplished when we cultivate curiosity and equip students with the tools to address real-life challenges.”
“These students are not merely learners; they are builders and creators stepping into the future with confidence.”
The fully retrofitted STEM Lab, now housed in one of the school’s historical blocks, was meticulously refurbished and outfitted by the SAIL Foundation.
It is part of a growing ecosystem of innovation hubs established by the foundation, including the flagship SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu and the SAIL Innovation and Sports Centre in Orimedu, Ibeju-Lekki — all aimed at equipping young Nigerians with future-ready digital competencies and technical expertise.
Senator Abiru explained that this STEM initiative ties into one of the three central pillars guiding his senatorial mission: Endowment — alongside Legislative Responsibilities and Facilitation & Empowerment.
He noted that the programme was conceptualized to position Nigerian youths for success in an increasingly digital and innovation-centric global economy.
“We are creating access — to modern knowledge, expert mentorship, and 21st-century learning environments,” he said. “Scientific literacy and digital fluency are no longer optional; they are prerequisites for the future.”
Mr. Deji Abisola, in his remarks, revealed that the STEM initiative at GCL is just one segment of a broader youth-focused intervention.
He highlighted that the SAIL Innovation Lab in Ikorodu currently hosts the SAILors Programme, an ongoing STEM training platform where students from ten neighboring public secondary schools participate each academic term.
He confirmed that with the start of the new school session, the next set of students at GCL and the ten participating schools will resume their training.
Mrs. Ngozi Eneje, the school’s Vice Principal, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all partners involved in the initiative.
She particularly commended Senator Abiru and the SAIL Foundation for their unwavering commitment to reshaping education through targeted investment in science and technology.
In his goodwill message, GCLOBA Global President, Mr. Jibola Bakare, also lauded Senator Abiru for his enduring support and invaluable role in the transformation of their alma mater.
The day concluded with a guided tour of the cutting-edge STEM lab, where guests had the opportunity to observe the various innovative student-led projects and advanced tech equipment available for learning and experimentation.
Among the notable alumni and distinguished guests present at the event were: Professor Bankole Sodipo, SAN; Rear Admiral Leye Jaiyeola (Rtd); Mr. AA Akinajo; Mr. Akin Ogunmowo; and Mr. Timothy Aluko, Chief Operating Officer of CcHub, among others.
INN-HOUSE☆ 