By Elizabeth Osayande

Armed with the belief that with the right education, and great learning experience, pupils and students can be champions. This is the belief of Anthony Nwachukwu Isiani, a mechanical engineer graduate from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, who is building with local source innovative-tech solutions to not just aid teaching but to make it fun-filled, fulfilling, enjoyable, seamless and definitely something to cheer about.

Isiani’s passion grew from an encounter during his compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme, where he was assigned to teach Mathematics to students who hitherto disliked the subject. The students would later become gurus in the course, and other subjects he was tasked to assist with.

The Engineer-cum-educationalist at his company’s corporate headquarters in Amuwo-Odofin axis of Lagos hosted the media on the state-of-the-art equipment that School Development Support International boasts of.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what motivated you to enter the field of education?

I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. When I completed my National Youth Service Corps programme, I was filled with a strong desire to serve my country. I was placed in a secondary school, where I was tasked with helping students excel in mathematics. Despite my enthusiasm, I encountered challenges in helping them truly understand the subject.

It sounds like you faced some difficulties in your teaching. How did you address those challenges?

Absolutely. Initially, I tried various methods to engage the students, but I wasn’t achieving the results I hoped for. Rather than giving up, I leveraged my background as an engineer to explore innovative solutions to help students grasp mathematical concepts. This led to the establishment of School Development Support International, SDS almost three decades ago.

What were your key motivations for founding SDS, especially when you had lucrative offers from other industries?

I was 28 years old when I set up SDS International 27 years ago. I didn’t plan to go into teaching in the first place, but it was through divine direction that I found myself inside the classroom, and I became a classroom teacher par excellence. But then, I knew that if I stayed there for 20 years or more, nobody was going to discover me, to the extent of making me a school principal because I didn’t have the requisite educational qualifications to stay in the classroom for that length of time. So with that in mind, I left teaching and joined an oil servicing company. But just within 30 months I resigned my appointment and decided to do exploits in the classroom.

“I have got all the requirements for me to start a formal school on my own but I dismissed the whole idea because it was going to limit my vision and scope. But rather opted to remain a solution provider to all schools, which is a more broad-based assignment for me. The most important thing for me as an engineer is I want to support the industry to the best of my ability.”

So my deep-rooted conviction was to make the world a better place, and I felt a strong calling to impact education. I turned down several enticing offers in sectors such as oil and gas because my passion lies in education. I wanted to create an environment that encourages learning and innovation, and that’s where SDS comes in.

Can you elaborate on some of the innovations your team has developed?

Certainly! At SDS, we’ve designed over nine unique solutions tailored to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Our products range from writing desks and chairs to more advanced tools like remote-controlled audiovisual learning monitors and specialised lab equipment such as monitoring screens. Others are writing tablets, markers, door accessories, display boards, lockers, mini table tennis court for toddlers where they can practice their motor skills, etc, to study labs, Maths labs, Biology labs, Physics labs, ideas incubation clinics, arts, among others. We strive to make education fun, engaging, and accessible.

What makes SDS unique?

SDS has what it takes for the possible immortality of humanity to bring them to a better reckoning, especially in Nigeria, West Africa, the continent and the entire globe. We changed the approach of teaching and pedagogy by inventing the seamless teaching method. Seamless teaching as the name implies, starts from designing the materials which are tailored towards a particular study.

Also, we’re transforming schools through creativity. At the risk of sounding immodest, I can tell you for a fact that no school that has ever tested us wants to leave. Once they come in, they remain with us because of the level of trust they repose in us. SDS is not competing with anybody. We don’t import; rather, we create our own solutions through engineering design and production, peculiar to us, with a problem in mind. For instance, we integrate creativity into mathematics in such a way that the subject becomes easier to assimilate and understand. That’s what makes us unique.”

What inspired the name and mission of SDS?

The name reflects our goal to support school development comprehensively. I believe that education is a critical cornerstone for societal advancement. I founded SDS out of necessity when I realised there were significant gaps in the resources available for schools. My mission is to provide solutions that elevate education standards and enhance the learning experience.

Looking back, what milestones are you most proud of with SDS?

When I established SDS 27 years ago, I was driven by passion and purpose. I’m proud of the many innovations that have emerged from our team and the positive impact we’ve made on thousands of students and teachers alike. It’s gratifying to know that we are contributing to transforming education in Nigeria.

Can you speak more on your latest innovation, studentship to immortality?

The concept of studentship is a way of encouraging students to be able to study on their own using their God-given natural abilities to explore, discover themselves, and their innate potentials, especially.

We want to take our studentship to immortality. To the point that a student can carry on his or her studies without the tutor even from the comfort of their homes. Immortality through studentship is the latest development of the study lab. In every study the child is taking, there are three people involved: the child, the tutor and a parent, all connected to the system. The child is given the ability to monitor study and learning outcomes. A sort of monitored learning by students, with the caregivers, in this case, their tutors and their parents, all in sync. It’s a win-win situation for everybody, especially the society at large, which benefits more if our students develop their mental faculty to the extent that they can explore, discover themselves by themselves and then bring out their talents and allow them to manifest.”

What future goals do you have for SDS and the education sector in Nigeria?

I envision continued growth for SDS as a leader in educational innovations. I aim to expand our reach and influence so we can be a resource for more schools across the nation. Ultimately, I want to support humanity and empower the next generation to become champions in their respective fields.