A 16-year-old secondary school student, Nwabueze Olaedo, has launched a programme that uses basketball to introduce vulnerable children to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The initiative, tagged “Dunks to Discovery,” held its first outreach at the Hope for Survival Orphanage, where children took part in basketball-based activities designed to make STEM education more practical and engaging.

Olaedo said the idea was conceived after she spent 21 working days at the orphanage and observed that many of the children had limited access to educational resources, technology and basic items.

She said her experience prompted her to combine her interest in basketball and science to create learning opportunities for children who might otherwise have limited exposure to STEM.

According to her, the programme uses activities around basketball to explain concepts such as angles, friction and the technology used in sports equipment.

Olaedo said the approach was designed to show children that STEM is not limited to classrooms but can also be found in everyday activities such as sports.

She said the initiative would be taken to more orphanages and communities, with a long-term target of reaching at least 1,000 children within the next 10 years.

The teenager also urged government agencies and education stakeholders to consider innovative methods of combining sports with learning to make education more accessible and engaging.

A friend of the founder, Ndiogu Tevy, described the project as an effective way of exposing disadvantaged children to STEM through an activity they already enjoy.

Peter Isaac, a teacher at the Hope for Survival Orphanage, also commended the initiative, saying it had helped the children understand the connection between basketball, science and technology.

Isaac said the outreach also provided the children with an opportunity to participate in activities outside their usual environment.

Olaedo’s mother, Stella Nwabueze, said her daughter had repeatedly spoken about the conditions of the children at the orphanage before developing the idea for the initiative.

She said the family decided to support the project after Olaedo expressed her desire to use her interests in science and sports to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children.

Nwabueze explained that the name “Dunks to Discovery” represents resilience and the belief that children should continue pursuing their aspirations despite challenges.

Olaedo’s father said the initiative was also part of the family’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children, adding that the maiden outreach included donations of books, plates, cups, forks and other educational materials.

He said the project would not be a one-off activity, noting plans to extend similar interventions to other orphanages and communities.

Energy expert Kingsley Ehiaguina also commended the teenager for demonstrating leadership and innovation at a young age.