Intel Corporation will sponsor the 11th edition of the National Festival of School Science Fair taking place in Ado -Ekiti, Ekiti State from March 15th through 17th, 2015.
The National Festival of School Science was conceived in November, 2004 as an Initiative of Genius Illumina with the clear objective of encouraging the teaching and learning of Science and as a catalyst for sustainable national development.
Intel has been a corporate sponsor of the Science Fair since 2008 and will once again sponsor this year’s fair. Intel is directly involved in education in Nigeria and indeed around the world in order to expand elementary and secondary students’ knowledge of and enthusiasm for science, mathematics and engineering.
Country Manager, Intel Nigeria, Olubunmi Ekundare while explaining the mechanics of the competition stated,“Intel is directly involved in education today to inspire and enable innovation tomorrow and to expand elementary and secondary students’ knowledge of and enthusiasm for science, mathematics and engineering”
“This is also why Intel sponsors a number of maths and science competitions including Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, a Program of Society for Science & the Public which brings together hundreds of young scientists to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science, and compete for scholarships” Ekundare added.
Explaining further on the reason for the Fair, Genius Illumina, Executive Director, Dr Jerry Orhue, said, “For us at Genius Illumina, it’s been eleven years of unbroken commitment to the promotion of excellence in Science and Technology Education. Over ten years ago, we stood alone, but today, we are grateful to have giants standing by us. We remain highly indebted to our financial partners who through their commitments to the Nigerian child have continued to put their money behind our noble dream. We look forward to many more years of working together with them for the glory of our great country”.
Interestingly, NAFESS organized by Genius Illumina is affiliated to Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (INTEL-ISEF) in the United States. Winners of the best 3 projects at this year’s fair will be sponsored to attend the Intel (ISEF) in the US in May, 2015 while the teachers of students with winning projects would be recognised at the award ceremony.
The Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world’s largest pre-college science competition, bringing together hundreds of young scientists to share ideas, showcase cutting-edge science, and compete for scholarships. The competition encourages students to solve problems and tackle challenging scientific questions through authentic research. Intel assumed sponsorship of Intel ISEF in 1996, and in October 2008 extended its commitment to the program through 2019.
Apart from attendance at the Intel-ISEF, Genius Illumina kids have also been opportune to feature in notable International events such as the International Sustainable World Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) based in Houston Texas, (since 2010), the Expo Science International (ESI), a programme of the international Movement for Leisure Activity in Science and Technology, MILSET (since 2011).
Intel is determined to use the platform of the National School Science Fair to gradually transform every Nigerian student into a researcher and to help them see themselves as part of solutions to societal problems.
