By Aliyu DANLADI
No fewer than 296 pupils from four schools within Lagos metropolis visited the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair on Tuesday.
The schools were: Lagos Central Mosque Nursery and Primary School; Covenant Hall School; Lekki, Dolphin International School; Lekki and Princeton College, Surulere.
Mr Mustapha Akanbi, the coordinator of pupils from Lagos Central Mosque Nursery and Primary School, said the pupils were at the expo to experience the act of buying and selling in order to compliment their lessons in school.
He said the visit would also spur the students’ interest in creativity, arts and crafts having visited foreign art exhibitors’ stands.
“We have brought them here to spur their interest in being creative.
“That is the reason we visited most stands that have to do with craft, arts and some locally produced products,” he said.
Yusuf Subai, one of the pupils, said he experienced the physical way in which goods were purchased as explained in the classroom.
“Now I can see how businesses are transacted and goods purchased, the purchasing power of individuals differ,” he said.
Mr Wisdom Onyekwere, the coordinator of students from Covenant Hall Schools, said students were meant to learn some entrepreneurial skills and gain knowledge about functions of most government establishments.
Onyekwere lauded the ban on music use at the fair as this would allow students easily comprehend whatever taught on the fair ground.
“The students have been to NNPC, NIPOST and a host of other government agencies represented at the fair to know their functions.
“It is highly commendable now that we are not distracted with music from different angles of the fair, students will hear easily and comprehend more now,” he said.
Michelle Chukwu, another pupil, said she learnt that the first man to use postage stamp was Sir Rolland Hills from England and the first postage stamp was “Penny Black” produced in 1840.
“I have improved my knowledge about postal services at the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) stand.
“I now know the different kinds of postage stamps, how to stamp letters and send them,” she said.
Also, Mr Jude Okoli from Princeton College, Surulere said the students were brought to explore areas that dealt with technological development, economics, commerce, buying and selling.
“We want these children to explore issues around economic, commerce, technology development just as they are thought in school.
“We have visited the Japanese and Chinese stands for technological development and for the ladies, they were thought how to make different forms of pasta,” he said.
A student of the school, Blessing Halim, said she had learnt about the negative effect of using bleaching cream and benefits of Shea butter on the hair and skin.
They said the fair was well organised compared to the previous years when the noise emanating from music affected their level of comprehension.
There was a ban on music and disc jockey on the fair grounds to enable visitors and traders have seamless business transactions.
The Lagos International Trade Fair, the 32nd edition, commenced on Nov. 2 and is billed to end on Nov.
