The Schlumberger Foundation, in collaboration with nonprofit Seeding Labs, has donated a suite of scientific instruments to the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, marking a decade of partnership aimed at advancing STEM education and research infrastructure across Africa.
The donation, celebrated during a formal handover ceremony, is the latest milestone in a 10-year initiative that has delivered over 2,500 pieces of equipment to 11 universities, reaching more than 30,000 students across the continent.
“Without access to working labs, students are observers rather than participants in their education,” said Capella Festa, President of the Schlumberger Foundation. “Through our partnership with Seeding Labs, we’re helping to create environments where education is active, research is possible, and opportunities can grow. This latest donation in Ondo State, following a decade of shared commitment, underscores the enduring success and continued expansion of this vital initiative.”
The collaboration also supports the reintegration of Faculty for the Future Fellows—women from developing and emerging economies who return home after earning advanced STEM degrees abroad. These Fellows often face a critical challenge: the absence of core scientific infrastructure needed to apply their expertise.
“We are excited to celebrate a decade of impact in partnership with the Schlumberger Foundation,” said Melissa P. Wu, PhD., CEO of Seeding Labs. “When Faculty for the Future Fellows return home, one of the major barriers they find is a lack of infrastructure to use their skills and knowledge. By supporting their universities with equipment, we make it easier for women to return and stay in science. It has been inspiring to see so many women taking our partnership as a launching point for shaping the future of the communities they call home.”
Seeding Labs has shipped equipment to 42 developing countries since 2008, enabling students to move beyond theoretical learning and empowering researchers to publish findings, secure international grants, and build global collaborations.
Dr. Olalekan Faboya, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, welcomed the donation, saying, “The arrival of this state-of-the-art equipment will significantly enhance our research capabilities, foster innovation, and provide our students with hands-on learning experiences that will prepare them for the challenges of the future.”
As the Schlumberger Foundation and Seeding Labs enter their second decade of partnership, the initiative continues to reflect a shared commitment to expanding access to STEM education and research opportunities in regions where they are needed most.
