Project Sunshine, a United States-based company, has partnered with the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin in Kwara State to organise Aero Science Technology Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) Fellowship for secondary school students in selected institutions in the state.

Project Sunshine, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said that Aero STEM Fellowship was designed to provide interactive learning activities to young adults to equip them with materials and manuals to build an RC Aircraft.

A statement by the IAC said that for three days, 45 students were camped in the hostel of the college and taken through the manuals on making of RC aircraft.

The statement hinted that Project Sunshine is championed by two US-based Nigerian pilots – Capt. Idris Ekungba and Capt. Uchena Abali who works with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, respectively.

At the closing of the three-day programme, Ekungba, an indigene of Owo in Ondo State, who initiated the fellowship in Ilorin as a way of giving back to the community where he spent his formative years, said the project was to expose the kids to STEM as well as piloting.

He stressed the need to catch the children young to develop interest in STEM, noting that only about 15 per cent of African children have knowledge about STEM.

He commended the performance of the students during the three days training, saying that it was a long time project.

He said: “We also had teachers from each of these schools come in with the students to also learn what we are teaching the students because we also have to be following up with them over the next few years. It is a long term process. The short term is starting from here.

“I grew up in a home with a father that instilled the passion in me, the passion of always giving back to society. So I thought about what vehicle I could use to give back to society.”