Group brings Hidden Figures to Nigerian students

Gbenga and Aisha Oyebode recently partnered with the Murtala Muhammed Foundation and Harbor Point Limited to bring the Hidden Figures initiative to Nigeria.

The critically acclaimed movie, tells the true life story of three brilliant African-American women who were mathematicians at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, a spectacular achievement that became one of the historical moments the world remembers.

Pioneered by Infor CEO, Charles Philips alongside other business leaders in the United States, this initiative plans to offer free admission to the movie to thousands of middle school students globally. Over 25,000 middle school students in New York alone were beneficiaries of this program, successfully executed with the partnership of organizations such as 20th Century Fox, Google, Facebook, Infor and AT&T.

Last week, the initiative kicked off in Nigeria with 120 students from four selected public schools going to the Genesis Cinema, Palms Lekki to watch the movie. Thirty students each were selected from the four schools, Kuramo Junior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Kuramo Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Maroko Junior Secondary school, Ikoyi and Maroko Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi respectively.

This initiative will educate students about the many contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math and seek to inspire more students to enter those fields. Beyond that, the movie portrays the value of perseverance, diligence and hard work in a time when these qualities were subsumed by race and colour. The three women featured in the movie, fought those odds to become the honored figures they are today.

The importance of these lessons was further discussed with the students by the representatives of Harbor Point Limited; Olufemi Oyinsan, Mariam Shuaib and Funmi Oyinloye after the screening. The aim of the initiative was achieved as the students were inspired and visibly encouraged to work harder.

Olufemi Oyinsan, pleased with the students’ response said “We realize that not everything can be taught in a classroom and so the importance of alternative education especially in current times cannot be overlooked.” He stated that this movie experience was only the pilot and that the Oyebodes have plans to expand the initiative thereby giving more students the experience.