MTN Nigeria, led by CEO Karl Toriola, has announced a breakthrough $50 million program targeted at changing education in Nigeria through technology-driven solutions. This ambitious effort is part of MTN’s larger aim to empower future generations by providing access to high-quality science and technology education.
The MTN Foundation Science & Technology Laboratory Project is a critical component of this endeavor, with the potential to revolutionize the educational landscape. On Tuesday, the foundation dedicated seven new scientific laboratories to the Government Day scientific Secondary School (GDSSS) in Gombe. These laboratories are intended to accelerate technological growth and improve science education for kids in the region.
The newly opened facilities comprise two Chemistry laboratories, two Biology laboratories, two Physics laboratories, and one Agricultural Science laboratory, all of which provide cutting-edge learning settings for students. This contribution demonstrates MTN’s commitment to improving educational facilities and promoting creativity among Nigerian youth.
During the commissioning ceremony, GDSSS Principal Abdulhakim Mudansir thanked MTN for prioritizing students’ education in Gombe. He stressed the new laboratories’ transformative potential for the school and the larger community. “This laboratory will act as an important catalyst for development. We’d like to thank MTN for investing in the future of young minds,” Mudansir added.
The project’s good impact was also acknowledged by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented at the ceremony by Dr. Abdullahi Bappa, Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation. The governor complimented the MTN Foundation for selecting GDSSS, one of the state’s best institutions, and emphasized the laboratories’ role in encouraging scientific progress in the state.
“We thank MTN Nigeria for choosing Government Day Science Secondary School.” This is one of our best schools, and we feel that this collaboration will serve to boost science growth in the state, which is consistent with our administration’s commitment to improving education,” Yahaya said.
Furthermore, Governor Yahaya assured the foundation of the state’s commitment to protecting the donated equipment from damage, ensuring that the treasures be preserved for future generations. Dr. Aishatu Maigari, Commissioner of Education, also expressed her gratitude, stating that the laboratories will assist develop the brains of future professionals such as doctors, engineers, and pharmacists. “This laboratory will go a long way in shaping the minds of future doctors, pharmacists, engineers, and others,” Maigari told reporters.
Hamza Ibrahim, Senior Manager at the MTN Foundation, shared additional insight into the Science & Technology Laboratory Project’s greater scope. He explained that the plan extends beyond simply rebuilding laboratories by include teacher and laboratory attendant training to improve both teaching and learning experiences in important science disciplines. Now in its third phase, the project continues to help public secondary schools in Nigeria by providing contemporary facilities to improve STEM education.
“In Phase Three of the project, we renovated laboratories in six schools, totaling 28 labs across six states from 2023 to 2024. These labs—which cover Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Agricultural Science—have been completely updated to improve students’ learning experiences,” Ibrahim stated. He further stated that prior phases of the project concentrated on updating labs for essential courses like as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, whereas the addition of Agricultural Science to Phase Three represents MTN’s comprehensive approach to STEM education.
MTN’s dedication to educational growth is evident in their investment of approximately N2 billion ($1.2 million) over the last three years, which was used to repair 102 scientific laboratories across 32 secondary schools in 15 states. Ibrahim noted that this effort is consistent with MTN Nigeria’s overall mission of empowering youngsters and supporting academic performance. “Through this, we encourage students to envision the future they desire and provide them with the opportunity to actualize their dreams,” he continued.
MTN Nigeria’s $50 million education initiative, led by Karl Toriola, is setting a new bar for the country’s corporate social responsibility. The project encourages collaborations that benefit students while also contributing to the general development of Nigeria’s educational infrastructure. MTN is shaping Nigeria’s youth’s future, one scientific laboratory at a time, by prioritizing technological developments and new educational solutions.
