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| Minister Of Education |
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have renewed calls for improved funding of science education, stressing that stronger investment is vital to equip students for careers in innovation, technology and national development.
The demand came as TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and their partners inaugurated a five-laboratory science complex at Government Secondary School, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory. Delivered in partnership with CNOOC, SAPETRO and Meren 234, the facility is designed to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education by giving students access to modern practical learning spaces.
Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of TUPNI, Matthieu Bouyer, represented by Acting General Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility Moyosola Areola, said the laboratories would improve teaching quality, help students prepare more effectively for examinations and spark greater interest in STEM careers. He linked the project to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education.
Bouyer noted that TotalEnergies’ education support goes beyond infrastructure. Since 2003, more than 30,000 students have benefited from the company’s National Merit Scholarship Scheme, while over 170 Nigerians have completed postgraduate studies abroad under the TotalEnergies International Scholarship programme jointly sponsored with NNPC Ltd and partners.
Representing NNPC Ltd, Acting Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services Olanrewaju Igadan described science education as critical to Nigeria’s future. He said the new laboratories would enable students to convert classroom theories into practical discoveries and underscored NNPC’s wider commitment to education, healthcare, infrastructure and community development.
Officials of the FCT Secondary Education Board described the facility as unprecedented within the Kuje education zone. Zonal Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Nuhu Douglas urged school authorities to maintain the laboratories properly so they can serve future generations. Principal Dr Adam Gupa called the handover a historic moment that would significantly enhance practical science teaching, while School-Based Management Committee Chairman Zayyad Mohammed said the investment affirms science as the foundation of technological progress.
The project highlights growing private-sector involvement in addressing gaps in public education infrastructure and reinforces the broader argument that sustained funding and modern facilities are essential if Nigerian students are to compete in a technology-driven world.