The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on Thursday flagged off the donation and distribution of essential science equipment to selected secondary schools in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Warri, Delta State, the NDDC interim administrator, Efiong Akwa, said the flag off was part of NDDC efforts to facilitate the effective teaching and learning of science subjects in order to stimulate and foster the interest of young minds in the study of the sciences.
Akwa said the relevance of science education to lives and its capacity to apply vital life skills to everyday activities, cannot be over-emphasised, adding that, “That is why we must equip our laboratories with modern science equipment. That is why we must promote the teaching and learning of science subjects in schools.
The NDDC chief executive officer underscored the Commission’s resolve to building educational infrastructure which serves as a catalyst to offering a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the region.
“Today, we are donating essential science equipment to forty-six schools across the region. The goal of the Commission is to facilitate the effective teaching and learning of science subjects, in order to stimulate and foster the interest of young minds in the study of the sciences.
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“We recognise that these are the future leaders and key players in the regional growth strategies and efforts that will ensure that the Niger Delta region reaps adequate reward from its natural riches.
“And that is why, as part of the Commission’s human development initiative, and in consideration of the challenges occasioned by the COVID- 19 pandemic, management has reviewed the NDDC Post-Graduate Scholarship scheme to include approved universities in Nigeria.
“We, therefore, encourage our young graduates to take advantage of this opportunity, when advertised. Our strategy remains to help build the capacity of Niger Deltans and equip them to flourish in the predominant oil and gas sector of the regional economy,” Akwa said.
The NDDC boss highlighted some of the interventions of the Commission in the education sector. According to him, they include: “Renovation and rehabilitation of schools in all the states; provision and supply of desks and benches, creating a more conducive environment and classrooms for teaching and learning; donation of desktop and laptop computers to schools, in order to address computer illiteracy in schools.
Others are: “Provision and distribution of NDDC customised teaching and learning materials to schools, as well as equipping pupils with learning aids; Capacity building workshops for teachers, aimed at enriching and updating their knowledge base with modern teaching techniques for improved learning and campaigns against substance abuse, cultism, and examination malpractices, aimed at creating awareness to these social vices, finding ways to curb them and promoting a conducive and healthy learning environment in our schools.”
On his part, the Delta State’s commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Ukah, thanked the NDDC, for taking concrete steps to ensure that secondary school students were given good science education.
Ukah, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Augustine Oghoro, expressed the government’s appreciation of the science equipment and promised to put the items to good use.
He appealed to the NDDC to extend the donation to other schools in the state while calling on other organisations to emulate what the NDDC had done.
Cutting the tape for the flag-off, the Chief of Staff to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, who represented the minister, Etekamba Umoren, emphasized the role of science education in nation building, urging the beneficiaries of the science equipment to put them to good use.
