GetBundi launches to equip young Africans with STEM skills

According to experts, education in the STEM fields is the cornerstone of any meaningful or long-term economic growth and progress. Yet, in terms of STEM education, Africa falls behind the rest of the globe, with less than 25% of African higher education students choosing STEM-related careers.

A new educational technology platform has been introduced in an effort to alter this narrative, with an emphasis on providing African kids with high-quality, easily available, and reasonably priced STEM learning (education) and STI digital skills.

The Wings of Justice Limited offering GetBundi, a platform designed to reorient Africa’s educational system toward STEM and digital skills in order to raise millions out of poverty, was introduced in Lagos.

GetBundi’s CEO and founder, Osita Oparaugo, stated at the launch of GetBundi that the idea for the platform originated from the realisation that only nations with citizens who are STEM-enabled can experience meaningful development because STEM education fosters the creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities necessary in the 21st century.

“Singapore used science and technology in turning from a developing country to developed country. China went from having a no-flush problem to being a global leader in science. These countries have flourishing economies as a result of the critical role scientific and technological advancements have played,” Oparaugo said.

“What China and Singapore have achieved in less than 50 years, Africa can also attain using STEM Education and STI Skills acquisition, especially when one considers the abundance of human capital and the resilient nature of Africans, especially the youths,” he said.

According to Oparaugo, GetBundi currently provides more than 1,008 hours of audio-visual information that spans six years of secondary school work utilising the West African curriculum. This content includes topics like physics, chemistry, mathematics, ICT, data processing, English language, etc. Additionally, there is up to three years of revision for competitive exams like the WAEC exams, as well as monthly live question and answer sessions.

He emphasised that GetBundi is a supplement that may be used as a teachers’ help, to encourage continuous learning for in-school students, and as a study guide for out-of-school students/homeschoolers rather than a replacement for the traditional style of teaching or physical secondary education.

He added that GetBundi is trying to integrate three years of JAMB, IELTS, and TOEFL review programmes, as well as science, technology, and innovation capabilities, into its next product release. The STI skills would include training in coding, graphic design, video editing, and digital marketing. Users who successfully finish a course and all associated projects will receive a diploma.

“Acquiring digital skills is a must for anyone in the 21st century, especially in Africa. STEM-focused remote jobs are in high-demand and are well-paying, and with so many people willing to make the switch but not knowing where to start, GetBundi is the one-stop shop for you,” he said.

According to the founder of GetBundi, the platform will help and upskill 10 million Africans in the next 10 years through the acquisition of STEM and STI digital skills through a plan known as ‘The GetBundi Vision 2032.’

He asked the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and other regional economic organisations on the continent to embrace the GetBundi goal.

The goal of the project, according to Juliet Ijeh, GetBundi’s programme coordinator, is to reach as many kids as possible, regardless of where they live, with STEM education. This is especially important given the high level of insecurity in Africa, which has made attending school more challenging.

“This product will make innovative learning attractive to young minds such that even after secondary school, some of them can decide to be entrepreneurs, or go into creative and productive activities,” Ijeh said.