Hadid Dynamics College, Ikorodu, Lagos, has been named the winner in the Innovative Performance of the Year 2023 at the West African Quality Education Awards (WQEA).

The recognition reflects the school’s growing commitment to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, particularly through its active participation in coding and robotics programs and competitions, where students have consistently recorded notable achievements and won medals and trophies.

According to a letter addressed to the Head of School sighted by our correspondent, the organisers informed the management that her college had been selected for the award category.

The letter stated that the recognition was based on merit and that recipients would receive a golden plaque and a certificate bearing the Mark of Quality Education seal.

According to the organisers, the award ceremony was scheduled for July 2023 at the Banquet Hall of Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

Beyond the award itself, the development highlights the school’s sustained efforts to combine conventional classroom instruction with technology-driven, practical and competition-based learning.

Located in Orere Abosan Estate, Igbogbo-Bayeku, Ikorodu, Hadid Dynamics School has increasingly prioritised STEM education as a means of equipping pupils and students with skills that extend beyond traditional academic instruction.

The pupils and the students of the institution have participated in various coding and robotics activities and competitions, and their performances have brought recognition to the institution.

These experiences have reinforced the management’s decision to make technology-based learning an integral part of the school’s educational programme.

The Director of Studies, Fatimah Adenike Rabiu, said the school was deliberate in exposing students to STEM-related activities because of the changing demands of education and the growing need for young people to acquire practical, problem-solving and digital skills alongside classroom knowledge.

She explained that the objective was not merely to teach students how to use technological devices, but to help them understand how technology can be applied to solve problems, develop ideas and create innovative solutions.

According to her, participation in coding and robotics competitions has helped students build confidence, teamwork, creativity and critical-thinking skills, while also providing opportunities to apply classroom learning in real-life situations.

Our correspondent observed that these competitions have provided opportunities for learners to test their abilities outside the classroom and to compete with other students from other schools.

Rather than limiting learning to textbooks, assignments and examinations, the school encourages its pupils and students to engage in activities that require them to think, create and demonstrate what they have learnt.

The school’s interest in technology and cyber safety dates back several years. In 2018, Hadid Dynamics College was invited to participate in the National Cyber Security Awareness Month programme organised by the International Centre for Leadership Development Nigeria.

The International Centre for Leadership Development Nigeria described the programme as an initiative focused on leadership, career development, entrepreneurship and cyber safety for young people. Implemented in partnership with the United States Consulate in Lagos, the programme educates students on their role in combating cybercrime, promotes safer internet use and improves online safety for children.

More than 20 students of Hadid Dynamics College attended the programme, held on 25 October 2018 at the American Corner, Ovie Brume Foundation, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This early exposure to cyber safety and technology-related learning has since been complemented by the school’s broader engagement with coding, robotics and STEM education.

Rabiu further stated that the school continues to encourage participation in external academic and technology competitions because such activities provide experiences that cannot always be replicated within the four walls of a classroom.

She noted that the school seeks to identify the strengths of individual students and provide opportunities for those abilities to develop.

In addition to its achievements in STEM, the school also participated in the Eighth Edition of the Spell Africa International Spelling Leaders Competition, where it emerged as First Runner-Up in the Primary Category.

The achievement added another milestone to the school’s growing record of participation in competitive academic activities.

While coding and robotics provide a platform for students interested in technology and innovation, the spelling competition offered an opportunity for pupils and students to demonstrate language proficiency, academic excellence and effective communication skills.

Rabiu said that participation in competitions has helped students appreciate the importance of preparation, discipline, teamwork and self-confidence.

She emphasised that although medals and trophies are encouraging, the broader goal is to expose students to experiences that contribute to their overall intellectual, social and personal development.

She added, “Our growing investment in STEM education reflects the reality that modern education is increasingly driven by innovation, technology and practical skills.”

“Hadid Dynamics School management highlights her commitment to exposing students to these opportunities early enough for them to develop genuine interest, competence and confidence.

“Through coding, robotics and other STEM activities, students are introduced to environments that challenge them to think critically, solve problems collaboratively and translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions.”

Rabiu said these outcomes have strengthened the school’s commitment to providing students with more opportunities to participate in STEM-related activities, competitions and enrichment programmes, while maintaining a strong focus on their core academic studies.

According to her, the ultimate goal is to raise students who can combine academic excellence with practical competence, creativity and the confidence to apply what they have learnt in solving real-world problems.

The Director of Studies reaffirmed that Hadid Dynamics School would continue to expose its students to competitions, STEM initiatives and other educational programmes designed to broaden their knowledge, nurture their talents and prepare them for future opportunities in an increasingly technology-driven world.l