In a bold leap for STEM education, the NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) has officially commissioned three cutting‑edge STEAM labs—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics—in Benin City, Edo State. Located at Niger College, Army Day Secondary School, and Oba Akenzua Secondary School, these state‑of‑the‑art facilities mark a significant milestone in Seplat mission to uplift educational infrastructure in its host communities.
These latest additions bring the total number of high-tech labs donated by the JV in Edo State to 9. They now complement the three labs previously launched at Ihogbe College, New Era College, and Edo Boys High School, reinforcing Seplat’s long-term partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Education.
At the unveiling ceremony, Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs & Social Performance at Seplat, emphasised that these modern labs are purpose‑built to nurture critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and digital literacy among secondary school students. “Our goal is to ignite curiosity through immersive, interdisciplinary learning at the intersection of science and art,” she stated.
Seplat’s STEAM initiative is more than bricks and mortar—it weaves together multiple educational initiatives, such as the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) and the Seplat Innovators Programme (SIP), to form a powerful ecosystem that combines teacher training, technology, mentorship, and infrastructure.
Table of Contents
A Collaborative Approach to STEM Excellence and Institutional Innovation
1. Strategic Education Partnerships
Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by Edo State’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, praised Seplat and NEPL for delivering impactful educational interventions aligned with his vision for Edo’s “Education‑Loving Governor” legacy. He urged students and school leaders to “guard these labs jealously” and utilise them to their fullest potential.
In an address, Deputy Manager of Sustainability at NEPL, Paul Omenogor, reinforced this call to action by encouraging communities and educators to maximise the labs’ value and inspire the JV partners to continue their support.
2. Teacher Development as a Core Pillar
Seplat’s award-winning STEP programme amplifies the impact of infrastructure by empowering teachers. Since its inception, STEP has trained over 1,334 educators—including 1,232 teachers and 102 Chief Inspectors—in hands‑on, tech‑enabled STEAM teaching methods. These teachers have reached over 100,000 students across Edo and Delta States.
The ripple effects of STEP-trained educators are already visible. In April 2023, teachers at Ihogbe College developed functional power banks using their STEP-derived knowledge. That success was instrumental in that school earning the first lab installation.
3. Holistic Ecosystem Integration Through SIP
Seplat’s Seplat Innovators Programme (SIP) complements STEP and takes its vision a step further. The 2024 installation of labs at Edo Boys High School and New Era College was part of SIP’s efforts to bring innovation hubs to life, translating teacher training into student‑led projects and increasing curricular impact.
Equipped with computers, robotics kits, electrical and chemical apparatus, art tools, and solar energy support, the labs facilitate digital literacy, robotics, coding, chemistry experiments, and insulation training—all within a framework prioritising creativity and problem-solving.
4. Sustainability and Infrastructure Resilience
An innovative feature across Seplat’s labs is solar-backed power systems with internet access, mitigating challenges with grid instability and ensuring uninterrupted learning opportunities. A comprehensive sustenance strategy—including teacher mentorship, internet subscriptions, and maintenance plans—ensures the longevity of each installation.
5. Community and Government Synergy
The initiative has drawn commendations beyond the education sector. Edo’s Commissioner for Mining, Oil and Gas, Andrew Ijegbai, lauded the JV for aligning with governmental visions for quality education and innovation.
School principals expressed profound gratitude, calling the interventions game‑changers. Their enthusiasm—especially around course planning, project development, and teacher‑student collaboration—reflects the cultural shift these labs are fostering.
Long-Term Vision: Cultivating Future Innovators
Seplat’s ambitious education agenda does not stop at installations. It extends across multiple dimensions:
- Teacher capacitation via STEP to ensure quality instruction.
- Lab infrastructure, both physical and renewable-power equipped, to support experiential learning.
- Ecosystem nurturing through student mentorship, peer innovation challenge pathways, and internet-enabled research.
- Community and government alignment to bolster ownership, sustainability, and future scaling.
This cohesive strategy is already bearing fruit: students and teachers within STEP-supported schools are participating in innovation challenges, building prototypes, and engaging in project-based learning that transcends traditional coursework.
What This Means for Edo State—and Beyond
Seplat’s comprehensive intervention is advancing on several fronts:
- Educational equity: STEM access reaches a broader student demographic, potentially fuelling future STEM career pipelines.
- Skill-building: Creative problem-solving, engineering design, and collaborative work—crucial 21st-century competencies—are becoming classroom norms.
- Teacher empowerment: STEP-trained educators redirect knowledge, raising teaching quality across participating schools.
- Sustainable learning models: Powered infrastructure plus maintenance ensures labs outlast short-term programmes.
- Scalable template: This public-private ecosystem collaboration could shape models for other Nigerian states or educational systems globally.
Professional Insight
As an education journalist and editor reviewing this initiative, it’s clear that Seplat’s approach is both strategic and heartfelt. It tackles systemic barriers—teacher preparedness, unstable infrastructure, and lack of creative learning space—in a unified campaign. The labs are not mere gifts—they are living ecosystems enmeshed in a larger educational reform blueprint.
Moreover, by integrating arts into STEM, Seplat embraces the full spectrum of human ingenuity. The inclusion of art and design in these labs positions students to think visually, empathically, and expressively—skills often neglected in conventional STEM education.
Conclusion
By commissioning three new STEAM labs in Benin, making nine in total across Edo schools, Seplat Energy and NEPL deepened their commitment to future generations of innovators. Supported by robust teacher training, renewable-powered infrastructure, and collaborative partnerships, this initiative is reshaping the educational landscape in Edo State—one lab, one mind, one spark at a time.
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