The MTN Foundation Science and Technology Laboratory Project is set to significantly improve science education and foster technological advancement among schoolchildren, an official announced.
The Executive Secretary of the MTN Foundation, Odunaya Sanya, highlighted the initiative on Tuesday during the inauguration of four remodelled and fully equipped laboratories at Government Girls College, Dala, Kano State. The labs cover key subjects like Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Agricultural Science.
Sanya explained that the project is designed to upgrade and equip science laboratories while also offering training for teachers and laboratory staff, thereby enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience in science subjects. She noted that the initiative is aimed at boosting science education in public secondary schools across Nigeria.
“In Phase Three of the project, six schools with 28 laboratories have been renovated across six states between 2023 and 2024,” Sanya said. She added that while the earlier phases focused on remodeling laboratories for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, this current phase also includes an Agricultural Science laboratory.
The MTN Foundation has gone beyond just laboratory renovations, providing laboratory furniture, solar-powered boreholes, alternative power solutions, and a variety of equipment and consumables. The total cost for renovating and equipping the four laboratories amounted to over N190 million.
Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, who chaired the event, noted that Government Girls College, Dala, was selected for the second phase of the intervention due to its fulfillment of all necessary criteria. He emphasized the foundation’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education among female students in public schools.
Kano State’s Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, praised the foundation for its role in complementing the state government’s efforts to enhance education quality. He encouraged other corporate organizations and individuals to follow MTN’s example in supporting education.
The school’s Principal, Ramatu Muktar, who is also an alumna, expressed her gratitude to MTN for prioritizing education in Kano and assured that the laboratories would be well-maintained and used effectively to drive development in the school.
