• TotalEnergies, NNPCL deepen STEM investment

Stakeholders in the education sector have called for greater investment in science education, saying this is essential to prepare Nigerian students for careers in innovation, technology and national development.

They spoke 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 (FCT), Abuja.

The project, delivered in partnership with CNOOC, SAPETRO and Meren 234, is aimed at strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education by providing students with modern facilities for practical learning.

Speaking at the inauguration, Managing Director of TUPNI, Matthieu Bouyer, represented by Acting General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Moyosola Areola, said the laboratory was built to improve the quality of science education for students in Kuje and neighbouring communities.

According to him, the facility will provide practical learning spaces and modern equipment that will strengthen teaching, improve students’ readiness for examinations and encourage greater interest in STEM careers.

Bouyer said the intervention aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education.

Bouyer noted that the company had sustained investments in education beyond infrastructure through scholarships, university support and teacher development programmes.

He said more than 30,000 students had benefited from the National Merit Scholarship Scheme since 2003, while over 170 Nigerians had completed postgraduate studies abroad through the TotalEnergies International Scholarship jointly sponsored with NNPC Ltd and partners.

Representing NNPCL, the Acting Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Olanrewaju Igadan, described science education as critical to Nigeria’s future, saying the new laboratory would help students translate classroom theories into practical discoveries.

He said NNPC’s commitment to sustainable development extends beyond oil and gas operations to investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and community development.

According to him, the project demonstrates what organisations can achieve through partnerships focused on improving lives and empowering future scientists, engineers and innovators.

Officials of the FCT Secondary Education Board described the facility as unprecedented within the Kuje education zone.

Zonal Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Division, FCT Secondary Education Board, Nuhu Douglas, urged school authorities to protect and maintain the facility to ensure it serves future generations.

The Principal, Dr Adam Gupa, described the handover as a historic moment for the school, noting that the five well-equipped laboratories would significantly enhance practical science education.

Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Zayyad Mohammed, said the investment reflects the importance of science as the foundation of technological advancement.