Corps member equips Abuja school with N8m laboratory to inspire future innovators

Marvellous Otarigho, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has donated laboratory equipment worth N8 million to the Government Junior Secondary School in Life Camp, Abuja.

Speaking at the unveiling of the equipment on Thursday, Otarigho said the gesture was meant to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among young learners.

Otarigho said the equipment was donated to the school as part of her community development service (CDS).

She noted that the project has the ability to transform learning and spark innovation in the minds of the students.

“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 said.

Otarigho added that the unveiling of the laboratory equipment coincided with the 2025 Nelson Mandela Day, which is set aside by the United Nations (UN) for making a difference in the communities—an occasion for everyone to take action and inspire change.

She commended various organisations and individuals who supported the project, saying efforts would also be made to ensure resources are provided for the maintenance of the laboratory.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

Florence Wenegieme, the director of science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the federal capital territory (FCT) universal basic education board, commended Otarigho for coming up with such a laudable project, saying it would go a long way to promote STEM education.

Wenegieme noted that government alone could not effectively fund education, adding that the project by the corps member would advance science education in the school, as students would now combine theoretical knowledge in the class with practical experimentation in the laboratory.

“We have laboratories in schools, we have equipment, but they cannot be enough,” she said.

“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.”