By Egufe Yafugborhi

Nigeria’s Youth Orientation for Development (YOD) and the British International Education Association (BIEA) have affirmed a partnership to enhance education in Nigeria through exchange programmes targeting youths for technical careers.

YOD, a UNESCO-accredited, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and BIEA, also non profit, explained the partnership focuses on early years and STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, interest in the youths.

STEM, an educational framework and curriculum designed to integrate these four disciplines, encompasses interdisciplinary approaches and real-world application on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking to prepare students for technical careers. 

Nikki Collins, CEO, BIEA emphasized the collaboration targets girls especially and those from the global South, to develop their science capital and STEM skills through international youth exchange programmes in the UK and school owners and head teacher’s short training and education tour.

Amb. Emmanuel Ejiogu, President, YOD, added, “We shall also promote STEM education and youth exchange by combining education, innovation, and international exposure—helping young people gain practical skills, global perspectives, and opportunities to become future scientists, engineers, and leaders.”

Leveraging on YOD’s affiliation with the federal ministries of Education, Youth Development, Science and Technology and that of Information and Culture as an implementing NGO, Ejiogu said, “Our drive is to empower and develop youth to become useful and productive citizens. 

“We employ STEM, practical skill acquisition programmes, public health enlightenment campaigns, counseling and education as vital tools for our work. We are also concerned with protection of youth rights, development and empowerment through continuous orientation towards positive values.

“Overall, STEM and youth exchange programmes empower Nigerians with skills, exposure, innovation capacity, and global connections, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to personal success and national development.”

The partnership would also support initiatives like the International STEM Youth Innovation Competition where young people work on real-world challenges (e.g environment, technology, sustainability) with not less than 100 persons benefitting yearly overall on the collaboration.