Johnstone Kpilaakaa AKURE—A few years ago, the laboratory at Saint Aquinas College in Akure, Ondo State, southwest Nigeria, was a relic of neglect, evidenced by faded walls and shattered windows. Inside, students sit on worn-out, uncomfortable furniture, some of it broken beyond use. Despite being labelled as ‘practical classes,’ the sessions rarely involved any actual equipment.
Johnson Olaleye, a former student of Saint Aquinas College, vividly recalls these conditions. He and his peers, spanning several generations of science students, had to make do with what little was available. “It was difficult for students to carry out science experiments,” Johnson admits, reflecting on the challenges they faced.
Saint Aquinas is not an isolated case. Research reveals a widespread issue across Nigerian senior secondary schools, where science laboratories are either poorly equipped or entirely inadequate. This chronic lack of resources hampers students’ ability to develop essential laboratory skills, leaving teachers unable to conduct meaningful practical sessions. The impact on learning is clear. In Ondo State, for instance, one study highlights consistent low-performance levels across all science subjects.
“[Laboratories have a] significant relationship with the quality of output from secondary schools,” according to T.O. Adeyemi, a researcher at the University of Ado-Ekiti’s Educational Foundations and Management department.
In 2022, the MTN Foundation, the corporate social initiative of MTN Nigeria, initiated a project to rehabilitate science laboratories in selected schools nationwide. Among the schools chosen for the second phase of the ‘MTNF Science & Technology Laboratory Project’ were Saint Aquinas College in Akure, St. Augustine College in Igbuzor, Delta State, and Queens College in Lagos. The renovated laboratory at Saint Aquinas College was officially commissioned in February 2023.
The MTNF Science & Technology Laboratory Project initially began with a pilot phase in 2013. Schools are selected based on an assessment of ‘Expressions of Interest’ submitted by their respective state Ministries of Education.
At the time, Olaleye was nearing his final year at Saint Aquinas. As the president of the school’s Junior Engineers and Technicians (JETS) Club, he was among the first to benefit from the newly rehabilitated lab.
“It greatly enhanced my learning experience, and I can say the same for others,” he recalls. “The lab became more inviting and conducive to learning.” The revitalised lab inspired the JETS Club to organise experiments and exhibitions, attracting more students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Now a 200-level Mechatronics Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Olaleye reflects on the lasting impact of these improvements, which he said enabled his excellent performance in the senior school certificate examination.
“Everything we do in life, apart from the creation by God, is technology, and technology is an application of science,” says Adebisi Jibola, the college’s principal during the official handover of the facility in 2023. “It is not only the present set of students that is going to use these facilities. They will be used by many other sets of students.”
Reinhard Adedayo, another Saint Aquinas alumnus, shares similar sentiments. “Although I graduated before the project was completed, I’ve heard so much from my juniors about the new lab,” he tells JoeyOffAir.
The MTNF Science & Technology Laboratory Project is designed to improve teaching standards and learning outcomes in public secondary schools in key science subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology. In addition to providing facilities and equipment, the Foundation also facilitates training for teachers and lab attendants, ensuring comprehensive user training for students.
Samuel Yisa, who graduated in 2023, describes the renovation as a “turning point” for his and his classmates’ learning experiences. “The lack of proper facilities previously hindered hands-on learning, which is critical in science education. Without it, many students had only a limited understanding of complex concepts and less interest in science, resulting in poor academic performance,” he says.
“The importance of education and technology in the development of our nation cannot be overstated,” says Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, the chairman of MTN Foundation. “Science and technology play an important role in promoting economies of advanced countries hence the decision by the Foundation to commit huge resources in projects that advance science and technology in the country.”
Yisa, a former vice president of the school’s JETS Club who now aspires to study electrical and electronics engineering, said, “The renovations transformed the physics, chemistry, and biology labs into state-of-the-art facilities, complete with modern equipment including microscopes. The solar-powered electricity system was also invaluable, given past power supply issues.”
Due to new external communication policies, the school management declined to comment. However, a former science teacher shared, “The project earned the school commendation from external examiners during final exams and has significantly boosted its regional reputation.” The teacher also noted an increase in science enrollment following the lab’s renovation.
Many alumni who spoke to JoeyOffAir suggest that to sustain the lab’s new standards, the school management should implement a strong maintenance culture. “That might be a challenge in the long term, especially as laboratory repairs and supply restocking will require steady funding,” Yisa added.
Editor’s Note: Johnstone Kpilaakaa is a 2024 MTN Media Innovation Fellow, currently studying media innovation at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria.
