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The World Bank yesterday commenced its annual review
of STEP-B projects in the different educational and research institutes
in Nigeria.

Irajen Appaasamy, task team leader of STEP-B project
at the World Bank, who led the delegation on a visit to the Minister of
Science and Technology in Abuja, stated that the bank, having funded
the projects in the country within the last few years, need an
on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the level of impact on the lives of
Nigerians.

Part of the objectives of the review is to know the
challenges the project is facing and how to discuss and agree on a set
action that will lead to the project impact at the end of the day.

“Basic areas we are looking at has to do with
increases in the number of students trained in Science and
technology-related areas; improvements in quality (like more
publications, more collaborations between researchers in the public and
private sectors, and between institutions in education and in research,
and between Nigerian institutions and their partners internationally);
improvements in teaching and learning of Science and technology and
improved relevance of S&T education and relevance to the needs of
Nigeria,” Mr. Appaasamy said.

STEP-B Project is a World Bank sponsored Nigerian
project supporting Science and technology education at the post-basic
evel. The idea is to catalyse the activities of Science and technology
in Nigeria so as to meet the development objectives of Nigerians.

The total value of grant for the project is 180
million dollars and half of this has been disbursed for different
projects in education and Science and technology ministries.

Tunde Adekola, senior education specialist at the
World Bank, Nigeria, said, “once in a year we go round to see the
status of the project; to see what is ground and how much we have been
able to achieve in terms of disbursement, impact and developmental
outcomes. We will be going to the field to visit some of the
educational and research institutes.

“But according to the data we have, 50 per cent of
the project has been executed and the project life has been extended
for another two years. It gives opportunity of better things to be
achieved. ”

Mohammed Abubakar, Minister of Science and
Technology, earlier stated that with the extension of the date of
completion of all STEP-B projects, there is need for more funding.

Mr. Abubakar also commended the STEP-B team for
assistance on some projects of the ministry, insisting that more
collaboration with the ministry would help in the expansion of the
scope of coverage, especially to its research institutes that were yet
to benefit from the assistance.

“You cannot encourage the teaching of Science
without the development of the ministry of science because we are
largely responsible for the development of Science and technology
policies and researches in the country.

“We have been collaborating, but we feel that the scope of
collaboration is not sufficient enough. There is, therefore, the need
to expand the scope and funding of Step-B project with the Ministry of
Science,” Mr. Abubakar said.