A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Marvelous Otarigho has donated laboratory equipment to Government Junior Secondary School, Life camp, Abuja.
The project, she said, has the ability to transform learning and spark innovation in the minds of the students.
Speaking at the unveiling of the laboratory, Otarigho explained that she embarked on the project to ensure young minds develop interest in basic science.
Her words: “Today is not just the unveiling of a room filled with equipment. It is the beginning of a journey where knowledge will no longer be limited to pages in a textbook, but students will experience learning firsthand through discovery, and experimentation.”
Otarigho stressed that the unveiling coincided with the 2025 Nelson Mandela Day — a day set aside by the United Nations towards making a difference in the communities — an occasion for everyone to take action and inspire change.
She added: “At the time I resumed my service year, I was assigned to teach basic science, a Subject some of the students were not good at hence, their lack of interest in the Subject.
“Upon resumption, I did my best to make the subject more attractive to them, thereby making them perform better. In the process of doing this, I saw that a major reason why the students are not much interested in basic science is the fact that there is no laboratory to demonstrate some of the teachings in practical terms.
“Upon this discovery, I decided to embark on this project as my personal “Community Development Service”, in line with the NYSC tradition. This laboratory is a gift to these students, who are today’s learners and tomorrow’s innovators.
“Whether you dream of becoming doctors, engineers, researchers, or inventors, let this space be where your dreams begin to take shape. We are not just opening a laboratory, we are opening minds, opening possibilities, and opening a future filled with promise.”
On his part, the principal, Mr. Nnanawachukwu Francis said the school has never seen a project of this magnitude since 2005 when it was established.
He said: “We are all excited, and we are very much happy and appreciative of the corps member, Marvelous Otarigho, who in her own initiative, decided to donate this very magnificent laboratory for the school.”
Also, the Director, Science, Technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, FCT Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme commended Otarigho for coming up with such a project, saying it would help the students a lot, saying the government alone cannot do it.
According to her, We have laboratories in schools, we have equipment, but they cannot be enough. But she took it upon herself to make sure that she went out of her way to put stakeholders together, NGOs to support her in equipping the laboratory. We appreciate her.
Wenegieme was of the opinion that science without practicals will go nowhere, adding that science is very important to meet with global challenges.
She noted: “You are all aware that we are now in the world of technology, science and all others. For us to meet global challenges, we cannot do without science and technology, and that is why we appreciate this. We pray other youth corpers will take after her. They will emulate her to support the government.
“Yes, government is putting things in place, but like I said, government cannot do it all alone. We have science laboratories, not that we don’t have, but the equipment are not sufficient. They are inadequate.”