BY SOLOMON OKPO
UYO, In a quiet classroom at Iwukem High School, something extraordinary began. Physics teacher Timothy Otobong noticed that his students were so captivated by hands-on experiments and inquiry-based learning that they refused to let him leave when class ended. That moment of curiosity and enthusiasm sparked what would become Talk and Do Physics—a grassroots educational initiative now inspiring a STEM revolution across Nigeria and beyond.
Otobong, a professionally certified physics teacher with the Teaching Regulation Council (TRC) in Nigeria and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England, is also the CEO of Talk and Do Physics Beyond the Classroom, a platform focused on transforming how physics is taught, learned, and applied in real life.
“My curiosity stemmed from students’ motivation through hands-on engagement,” he explained. “At Iwukem High School, 95% of my students didn’t want the class to end. That’s when I knew we needed to go beyond traditional methods.”
Unlike conventional teaching models that emphasize theory and memorization, Talk and Do Physics adopts an active, student-centered approach. Students engage in projects, real-life demonstrations, and discussions that link textbook knowledge to the world around them, be it smartphones, airplanes, or seat belts.
“Physics comes alive when students see how it applies to everyday life,” Otobong said. “For example, understanding how a seat belt works leads us straight into the law of inertia.”
Through project-based learning and interactive sessions, Otobong has created a learning environment that’s both practical and inspiring.
Otobong has ambitious goals: by 2025, he aims for 70% of children aged 10 to 16 in Nigeria and across Africa to engage in STEM subjects. His hope? That many will become engineers and scientists by 2030, thanks to the foundation laid by Talk and Do Physics.
To make that vision a reality, Otobong is taking strategic steps:
Professional development for educators
Development of tailored resources
Pilot programs in selected schools
Culturally sensitive curriculum design: He believes Akwa Ibom State can play a key role in this transformation through training workshops, provision of scientific equipment, and improved access to educational materials.
Collaboration is Key: Otobong emphasizes the importance of partnerships and collaboration. From parents who support their children with STEM tools like coding kits and online resources, to stakeholders participating in workshops and seminars, the Talk and Do model thrives on community involvement.
Social media has also been instrumental in spreading his teaching philosophy. Platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook are helping to connect his ideas with educators and policymakers globally.
A Message for Policymakers: If he had the ear of national education leaders today, Otobong knows exactly what he’d say: “Physics is not optional. It’s foundational to national development.”
He cites its critical role in energy, construction, engineering, and medical fields, where technologies like MRI and CT scanners rely heavily on physics principles.
From a single classroom in Akwa Ibom to a continent-wide vision, Timothy Otobong’s Talk and Do Physics is more than a teaching model—it’s a movement. One experiment at a time, he’s proving that when students don’t want the lesson to end, real learning has just begun.
