About STEP-B
The objective of the STEP-B project is to achieve two goals that relate to education and research in Nigeria:
- for Nigerian education and research institutions and their partners to produce more and better qualified science and technology graduates at the post-basic level
- and for these same institutions to produce higher quality and more relevant research.
The STEP-B project was a baby of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) with Grant support from the World Bank to be implemented by Federal Ministry of Education through the Post Basic Educational Institutions (PBEI’s). The objectives of the project among others are to improve the quality of graduates and research publications, equitable access to and improve the relevance of science and technology education to National development. With regards to this, proposals were called for. The Institute sent in three proposals out of which the proposal for a workshop on effective Maintenance and Management of Laboratory Equipment in Nigerian Post-Basic Educational Institutions and Research Sub-sector was accepted.
NISLT-STEP-B PROJECT NOV. 2008 - APRIL 2009
In line with the proposal, the Institute (NISLT) won the first grant to organize a workshop on equipment maintenance and management in Federal STEP-B institutions. Although the fund allocated to the Institute was small, it was accepted by the institute since the project was in line with the Institute’s mandate. The implementation of the project commenced with the establishment of a STEP-B office with necessary facilities and seven team officers which includes the Project Manager (Dr. Ighodalo F. Ijagbone), Assistant Project Manager (Mr. Folorunsho O. Sunmonu), Procurement Officer (Mr. Joseph L. Musa), Monitoring & Evaluation Officer (Mr. Jackson I. Osuh), Finance Officer (Mr. Smart P. Olaiya), Technical Officer (Mrs. Oluwayemisi T. Aruna) and the Communication Officer (Mr. Chris Adeyanjie) . The E-mail address for the project is (stepb_nisltibadan@yahoo.com). The Institute applied for a no-objection from the World Bank based on the budget and procurement plan submitted to World Bank in accordance with the Bank’s procurement guidelines and procedures.
The duration was between November 2008-April 2009 while the actual Implementation was between 22nd and 25th of April 2009.
The workshop objectives are:
- to formulate policies and justify the need for equipment maintenance and management outfits and structures in PBEIs.
- to develop the needs of Institutional Equipment Maintenance Centres (EMCs) and Equipment Maintenance and Development Centres (EMDCs) and maintenance outfits for functionality and establishment.
- to develop the required capacity for the maintenance and management of laboratory equipment in Post Basic Educational Institutions (PBEIs).
- to review the required infrastructure for the effective maintenance and management of laboratories and equipment.
- to draw up a strategic plan on how to sustain the EMCs and EMDCs and to perform the mandate of the Institute in the next four (4) to five (5) years.
- to develop an Action/Work plan to request and utilize for further funds from World Bank for the development of EMCs and EMDCs. Thereafter, the Institute engaged in consultation and attended various meetings, seminars and workshops in order to facilitate the workshop. The Institute also carried out a pilot survey to determine the state of equipment in some selected Institutions across the six geo-political zones of the federation. Collaborations were proposed with other regulatory bodies such as NUC, NBTE, NCCE, FME and FMST parastatals to facilitate contact with the Federal Post-Basic Educational Institutions on the workshop.
These were seven linkages with the following below in the implementation of the first NISLT/STEP-B project “Workshop on Effective Maintenance and Management of Laboratory Equipment on Post Basic Educational Institutions (PBEIs) and Research Institutes “between November 2008 to April 2009” while the actual Implementation was between 22nd and 25th of April 2009:
- National Universities Commission (NUC)
- National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
- National Commission on Colleges of Education (NCCE)
- Federal Ministry of Education (FME)
- Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST)
- Scientific Products Association of Nigeria (SPAN)
- FINLAB Nigeria Limited
- JAAGEE Nigeria Limited
- Instrumentation Partners Limited
NISLT-STEP-B PROJECT 2011-2012
The Institute (NISLT) won another grant for a project on Standardization of Science Laboratories and Capacity Building for Equipment Maintenance in Nigeria Post-Basic Educational Institutions (PBEIs) and Research Institutions. The project is designed to invigorate the laboratories to the expected standards so as to contribute to the enhancement of Science & Technology Education in secondary schools.
The need for the standardization of Science Laboratories and Capacity Building for Equipment Maintenance in PBEIs to produce students for careers in S&T disciplines in tertiary Institutions and in turn produce better qualified graduates has become more paramount. It has been an observed fact that there had been break down of laboratory facilities to support the teaching of science subjects in schools generally. The absence of minimum standards for laboratories (i.e. equipment, chemicals, personnel and other facilities etc) have led to the current poor performances of students in final examinations in secondary schools.
In view of the seriousness of the challenges, the Institute, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology with the mandate to ensure that science laboratories are efficiently and effectively managed in institutions has proposed to look into it with support from STEP-B and proffer solutions by standardization of science laboratories and build human capacities for equipment maintenance in Nigeria PBEIs.
To commence the project, the Institute has written letters to One hundred and four (104) Unity Schools, accompanied with questionnaire to fully understand the conditions on ground and take inventory of laboratory equipment and facilities in the Unity Schools. Contacts have been made with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Supervisory Ministry of the Unity Schools for the purpose of collaboration with the Institute in carrying out the project. Ninteen (19) Unity Schools have responded so far and we are still expecting to receive more from the schools before holding the stakeholders meeting. Other stakeholders to be involved in the project include FME, FMST, NARICT, NASENI, STAN and Federal Equipment Centre Ijanikin, Lagos.
Advertisements and opening of bids for the procurement of goods and services required for the implementation of the project have been carried out and contracts for various procurements have been made based on the No-objection the Institute applied for from the World Bank which was based on the budget and procurement plan submitted to World Bank in accordance with the Bank’s procurement guidelines and procedures.
For the second project on “Standardization of Science Laboratories and Capacity Building for Equipment Maintenance in Nigeria Post-Basic Educational Institutions (PBEIs) and Research Institutions. Implementation is still on for these project. Questionnaires have been administered to 104 unity schools, Federal Ministry of Education have been carried along in the implementation of the project.
The linkages are mainly the:
- Federal Ministry of Education
- Federal Ministry of Science and Technology
- 104 Unity Schools in Nigeria
- National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT)
- National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)
- Federal Equipment Centre Ijanikin, Lagos
- National Universities Commission (NUC)
- National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
- National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
- Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN)
