Gov. Yahaya lauds MTN Foundation for upgrading science laboratory
Gov.Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on Tuesday, commended MTN Foundation for upgrading science laboratories in the state.
Yahaya gave the commendation while speaking during the inauguration of the newly-renovated science laboratories at Government Science Secondary School, Gombe.
Yahaya, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Abdullahi Garkuwa said that the intervention would complement government’s efforts at revamping schools infrastructure.
According to him, the science laboratories would encourage students of the school to enhance their knowledge of science, technology and innovation.
He said that the foundation’s intervention which he said was part of MTN’s corporate social responsibilities to Gombe State would help improve students’ understanding of the practical teaching of core science subjects.
Yahaya said that MTN Foundation had over the past years impacted positively on the lives of the people of Gombe State through the health, education and other sectors.
He said that the support would help lay a good foundation that will in the future boost manpower in the health sector.
The governor said his administration had invested a lot in science, technology and innovation and would continue to welcome any interest to strengthen that investment.
“There are a lot of gaps in the area of science and technology teaching, we believe, with these facilities, which is almost like the ones in tertiary institutions, MTN Foundation has done a lot for us.
“We commend MTN Foundation and we are happy with the support because it will impact greatly on our young people.
“We will utilise this well to teach our students well so that when they get to higher institutions, they will have a good foundation to excel at the top,” he said.
Corroborating the governor, Hajiya Ashaitu Maigari, the state’s Commissioner for Education said MTN’s intervention would bring improvement in the state’s education sector.
Maigari said that the support was a collaborative effort between the state government and MTN aimed at addressing gaps in the education sector.
According to her, over 3, 000 students would benefit from the facilities that have been provided by MTN Foundation.
She stated that learning was a major challenge, and she expressed optimism that the intervention would help address that through practical teaching.
She said that the state government had invested several billions of Naira in revamping and upgrading schools across the state, hence MTN’s intervention “is highly commendable.”
Mr Hamza Ibrahim, Senior Manager with MTN, said his organisation had provided over 10 projects to the benefit of people in the state.
“We have invested hundreds of millions in making sure that students of the school have the equipment to learn effectively.
“In Gombe, we have done close to 10 projects over a couple of years, from boreholes, laboratories like this, health facilities renovated, and many more,” Ibrahim said.
According to him, the intervention shows that MTN is committed to empowering youth and promoting academic excellence in public secondary schools across the country.
Ibrahim said that the foundation’s Science and Technology Laboratory initiative, is designed to improve the teaching standards and learning outcomes of science subjects in public secondary schools.
He said that the foundation had invested over N2 billion in renovating 102 science laboratories in 32 secondary schools across 15 states in Nigeria within the last three years.
The Principal of the school, Mr Abdulhakim Mudansir commended the partnership between the state government and MTN Foundation which had helped improved infrastructure of his school.
Our correspondent reports that two laboratories each were upgraded for Biology, Physics and Chemistry and a laboratory for agriculture.
