By Udeme Akpan

TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and their joint venture partners, CNOOC, SAPETRO and Meren, have commissioned a fully equipped five-laboratory science complex at Government Secondary School, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The facility is designed to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and improve teaching and learning outcomes for students at the school.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Matthieu Bouyer, Managing Director/CEO and Country Chair of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, said the laboratory complex was conceived to raise the standard of science education in Kuje and neighbouring communities in the FCT.

Bouyer, who was represented by Moyosola Areola, Acting General Manager, CSR, TUPNI, said the facility would enhance science education while laying a foundation for the future success of students in the area.

He linked the initiative to Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Bouyer said the Kuje laboratory project formed part of TotalEnergies’ broader education investment portfolio in Nigeria, which includes the donation of geoscience resources to six Nigerian universities: the University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology, Akure, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, University of Port Harcourt and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He also highlighted the company’s scholarship programmes, including the National Merit Scholarship Scheme, which has benefited more than 30,000 students since 2003, and the TotalEnergies International Scholarship, jointly sponsored with NNPC and its partners, which has supported more than 170 Nigerians through postgraduate studies overseas.

Another initiative is the Community Scholarship Scheme, which has operated since 1973 and benefited hundreds of students in host communities across the country.

He further cited the Empowering The Teachers (ETT) Fellowship, launched in 2011 to provide African academics with science and engineering backgrounds with immersive, semester-long exposure to teaching methodologies, mentorship and coursework at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States.

Also speaking at the event, Olanrewaju Igadan, Acting Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), described the project as a symbol of resilience, partnership and a shared belief in the transformative power of education.

Igadan said NNPC’s commitment to sustainable development extends beyond oil and gas operations to include people, communities and institutions.

He commended TUPNI for its partnership throughout the project’s lifecycle, as well as the contributions of consultants, contractors, community leaders, school management, teachers and students.

Addressing the students, Igadan said the facility “belongs to you” and urged them to use it to develop curiosity, deepen their knowledge and pursue excellence in STEM.

He also called on the school authorities and host community to take ownership of the facility by ensuring its proper maintenance, noting that safeguarding such public assets would enable future generations to benefit from them.

The complex comprises five fully equipped laboratories for chemistry, physics, biology, agriculture and home economics. Each laboratory has dedicated storage space and a subject teacher’s office.

According to the project brief, each laboratory is stocked with reagents, apparatus and subject-specific equipment to support practical learning and enhance students’ understanding of science-related subjects.