By: The Daily Record Staff | Read it >
Collaboration with nonprofit Learning Undefeated Aims to Inform the Creation of a Mobile STEM Lab for Nigeria
Last week, nonprofit Learning Undefeated hosted 18 education officials from Nigeria who are interested in developing a mobile STEM laboratory program for their county. The three-day event included tours of different Learning Undefeated mobile laboratory platforms, hands-on laboratory activity demonstrations, conversations with local K-16 educators, and a workforce development roundtable featuring corporate and philanthropic STEM education partners.
“We are honored to host this distinguished delegation from Nigeria, opening the doors on our fleet of mobile STEM laboratories for K-12 students and sharing best practices in mobile STEM education,” said Brian Gaines, CEO of Learning Undefeated. “Our mission to drive race and gender equity in STEM directly supports community groups to help co-develop, deploy, and self-manage community-based mobile STEM education. We hope this is the start of a collaborative relationship that will create a huge impact for the youth in Nigeria.”
The idea for this collaboration took root in 2023, when a participant in the Mandela Washington Foundation’s Fellowship for Young African Leaders served a fellowship with Learning Undefeated, who is best known for their fleet of traveling mobile STEM laboratories that bring hands-on science and technology education right to the school parking lot. Inspired by his time onboard the mobile laboratories, Fellow Julius Ilori returned to Nigeria and began building support for a program for Nigerian youth.
“Nigeria has a rapidly growing youth population, and we’re projected to continue with this significant growth. With a large number of children out of school, it’s crucial to create opportunities for young people to achieve their potential and prepare them for the future of work,” said Ilori. “This project is very important to me, and I am committed to launching a mobile lab in Nigeria to enhance access to STEM education for young people in rural communities. No one should be left behind.”
Mobile STEM laboratories are an excellent solution for rural school districts, introducing students and teachers to new and exciting content and allowing cost-sharing of hardware, software, and modern equipment. Nigeria is the fastest-growing country in Africa, with the world’s largest youth population at approximately 151 million youth below age 15. However, only an estimated 22% of Nigerian schools have access to the internet, meaning that creative technology solutions are needed to help prepare the future workforce for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. Mobile laboratories also model STEM career pathways, allowing students to learn about jobs they may not have considered.
The Nigerian delegation toured four different Learning Undefeated mobile labs including the Mobile eXploration Lab, the Unites States’ largest mobile STEM Lab for education; the Mars-themed explorer lab; and an immersive learning theater built from a shipping container. Education officials participating in the hosted information exchange included Jamiu Ali- Balogun, Lagos State Commissioner for Education; Seun Fakuade, Hon, Commissioner of the Ekiti State Ministry of Ministry of Innovation and Digital Economy; Abayomi Abolaji, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic & Secondary School Education, Lagos State; elected officials and numerous Nigerian education organizations including Learners Corner, Future Perspectives, Imperial Edutech, the Nest Innovation Park, Matadors Learning Center, Kindle Africa, and DUDU Nations.
About Learning Undefeated
Learning Undefeated is driving race and gender equity in STEM through immersive and deep-impact learning experiences for students from historically marginalized communities. Learning Undefeated’s custom-built mobile labs range from laboratory-grade spaces to immersive learning theaters, connecting students with meaningful STEM experiences and linking them to career pathways. The nonprofit has prepared more than 1.5 million K-12 students for STEM careers since 2003 through hands-on content exploration, game-based learning, educator training, talent development, mobile laboratory design and build consulting, curriculum development and disaster recovery education.
Learning Undefeated has been recognized with national and international awards, including two Educators’ Pick Best of STEM Awards in Social Impact: Promoting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Life Sciences categories. Visit learningundefeated.org or follow us on social @LearningUNDFTD.
About the Mandela Washington Foundation
The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Established in 2014, the program has brought nearly 6,500 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa to the United States for academic and leadership training. Fellows, between the ages of 25 and 35, are accomplished innovators and leaders in their communities and countries. The six-week Fellowship includes Leadership Institutes, studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management hosted by U.S. colleges or universities. Learn more about this program here.
