High quality stem education has been the bedrock of all developed nations. The United States and Russia, for example, skyrocketed their engineering and industrial capacity during the space-race. Since the 60s countries like the United Kingdom have maintained policies of hiring at least 50% of graduates into their civil service from the STEM background. For developing nations, having a strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) element is Important to their future economic success.
In African countries like Nigeria, where the average age is just 16, we need far more people to be excited at an early age to believe STEM is the career for them. To address the nationwide skill shortage, engineering needs to be embedded into the national curriculum to engage the next generation from an early age. I strongly align with the views of renowned Engr Iyiola Omisore who once said at one of his NAE Fellows’ Forum Lecture that engineering is the bedrock of every great nation and Nigeria cannot develop beyond the quality of its engineers.
Developing nations, both government and citizens must be passionate about attracting and, just as importantly retaining a new diverse generation of engineers. The best way to achieve this is through legislation that makes STEM and crucial engineering gateway subjects mandatory at primary and secondary level. There is also a need to increase the appetite for STEM learning among young people by providing rewards and incentivises.
Any developing nation hoping to have a feasible long term industrialisation strategy must make sure its policy makers understand new technologies coming down the line, how they work, the impact they have and the ethical considerations. Having STEM experts in the government will help shape the science sector and birth a competent and motivated engineering and technology workforce.
Ultimately the solution to developing nations largely rest on the dedication in the schools, institutions, laboratories, workplaces and minds of young people, scientists, engineers, technicians and technologists. Politicians too play an important role of course, particularly when it comes to policy making and commitment to finance.