It was a day of fulfillment for management and students of Tonyo High School in Ere, Ado-Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State, when the management of Total Upstream Company Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) donated a block of five science laboratories for physics, chemistry, biology, agriculture and home economics to the school.

Besides the laboratories being equipped, Total donated some equipment and chemicals that will be used by the students to carry out practical tests of what they are taught. The French oil giant noted that it places education and human capacity development as priorities in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects hence it was pleased to donate the facility to the school.

In his remarks during the commissioning and handover of the block and laboratories, the Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water District, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Ahmadu-Kida Musa, who was represented by the Executive General Manager, CSR and Medical Services, Vincent Nnadi, assured the school and the community of TUPNI's support to developing the educational sector in Nigeria.

He said the company had invested a lot in education because it remains the key to human development. According to him, the completion and commissioning of the project is in furtherance of the company's CSR.

'As you may know, according to some extant regulations, deep water operations adopt the entire country as host especially for its CSR activities. This edifice was put together in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), PETROBRAS, SAPETRO and CNOOC to support the education sector.

'Our education intervention has gone full circle with impacts all over the country and beyond. We have intervened in Catch-Them -Young programme for primary school pupils, post- primary, post- secondary and post- graduate scholarships with some tenable abroad, teacher training programme, NYSC support scheme, skills acquisition programme, and business development programme..

'We also conducted book reading programmes to inspire students as well as provision of education infrastructure, among others.' he said.

He said the laboratories was just one out of the many embarked upon by NNPC/Total and its partners in the current plan period. 'As we hand over this project to the beneficiary, we implore you to ensure the sustainable use so as to impact on the students positively. We want to start seeing excellence in your results.

'The sustainability barometer shall be seen during the impact assessment exercise, when the company will come back to check on how the project has helped to improve the studies in this institution,' he said.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the Director, Department of Primary and Higher Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, by Dr Waheed Olanloye, commended Total Upstream and its joint venture partners for investing massively in education and enhancing studies in schools in Nigeria.

Olanloye said Abiodun is an education-friendly governor who supports public, private partnership (PPP), adding that the Total partnership with the state government keyed into the programme of the governor. He said the governor has been doing a lot in improving education in the state.

Acting Principal, Toyon High School, Mrs Sabaina Bolanle Akoniyon ,thanked Total for the science laboratories with standard equipment. 'The management team is impressed as the science laboratories would assist the school in improving its standard in science studies. However, we appeal to the state government to assign science teachers to the school to improve the quality and performance of students.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan