Queen’s College to Represent Nigeria at Lego League Championship in Australia

Eleven students of Queen’s College, Lagos are set to represent Nigeria at the Lego League Asia Pacific Open Championship in Sydney, Australia.

At their first attempt in 2021, the students came first in the Robotics National Competition which qualified them to represent Nigeria in Greece for the FLL international championship, but they could not make it because of COVID-19 restriction in Greece.

In 2022 after an outstanding performance, they secured the second runner-up position in another fiercely contested Robotics National Competition that again qualified them to represent the country in Brazil for the same championship.

Speaking before the students’ departure, the Principal, Mrs. Onyindamola Obabori, said on one of the occasions, the girls could not make it because of lack funds.
She said the students are left under the aegis of Queen’s College Team Aurora, a leading advocate for promoting diversity and excellence in STEAM education.

“Their ground breaking work not only inspires future generations of young women in STEAM, but also serves as a testament to the power of diversity and inclusion in the field of robotics,” the principal added.
According to her, building on the previous successes of the girls in robotic championships and their eventual qualification for this year, she decided to take a step further by approaching corporate bodies and old girls of the college to support them in ensuring that they fulfilled their dreams.

“The innovative approach of the girls to robotics and their ability to adapt to changing circumstances truly set them apart from their peers.

”I expect that these girls will come back with at least one award.This is to know that we mean business here in Queen’s College. Infact, left to me, I will want them to come back home with the choicest prize,” she stated.
Obabori said apart from robotic challenges, the girls would also compete in cultural displays at the event.
She called on all stakeholders to assist the federal government in supporting and promoting science and technology in schools across the country.

According to her, though the federal government is the driver of policies, it could, alongside other stakeholders, step up efforts in ensuring that the country takes its rightful position in the world of technology.

“When other countries were talking about sciences, we were docile. But by the time we decided to wake up or develop to that level, they have moved to technology.
“Now, we have entered technology, so slowly, we are now in robotics, coding and all. So, I want us to probably just try to increase our pace to be at par with the world in terms of robotics and coding. All hands must be on deck,” the principal stated.
The head of the delegation, Mrs. Temitayo Makindipe, Vice-President II of the Queen’s College Old Girls Association (QCOGA) said she spearheaded the fundraising campaign to ensure that the opportunity does not pass the students by.

According to her, the botched previous years’ participation was an eye opener of what the girls had in stock for themselves, the college, Nigeria and the world at large.

“Funding has been one of the challenges in seeing their dream through to the international stage. So, as an engineer, I want to encourage girls. So, I took it upon myself, that I will start a fundraising drive and gradually, God blessed the effort and here we are today.
She said the old girls donated toward the cause hugely, as well as some corporate bodies.
“This girls are going to participate in robotics and I had challenged the team before now, that I want them to produce a robot that can sweep the corridors, which I felt they will do after their return from the competition in Australia.

“This was not to be, as they went ahead and actually started something. This innovation is something that we can sell to the country and the world. It is infact already happening. People are doing it but infact, what the girls have come up with, is the first I have seen that has been made here in Nigeria,” she said.

According to her, about 50 teams from various parts of the world, including Korea, America and Japan are expected to participate at the championship.

She expressed optimism at the success of the girls at the championship, though this is the first time Nigeria will be represented at this particular championship of various categories.

Makindipe said 10 of the girls would actively participate at the championship, while one of them will be a student observer.

Captain of Team Aurora, Damilola Ekundayo, said the members are prepared to make the country proud.

She described Aurora as a natural phenomenon in the sky, a beautiful display of light, that only happens in the northern sky around the winter period.

The team captain expressed confident in their success in the 14 days championship.

She highlighted the strength of the team’s cultural performance as one of their areas of excellence, describing it as one of a kind.

“I will also say our core values is another area where we will showcase who we are as a people. Being Nigerians, we have very high respect for value. So, there is teamwork, discovery, innovation, impact, we work as a team, despite the fact that we are from different grades.

“We are a mixture of junior and senior classes. I am in my final year for instance. But we are all together,” Ekundayo said