Seplat Energy has donated STEAM Laboratory to Ihogbe College, Benin City Edo state as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility to its host community.
Daily Trust reports that the laboratory supported by Solar Energy, has internet access to provide the teachers with a technology-enhanced learning environment to support project-based learning for their students.
Commissioning the project, the Director of External Affairs & Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr Nwachuku, said the laboratory would assist students in developing their science, engineering, mathematics, and art skills by using technology to create, collaborate and complete projects.
She said the same STEAM laboratory would be extended to more schools in the Edo and Delta state, saying it was implementing the use to distinct educational initiatives to support achieving quality education for students and teachers in its states of operation.
“Seplat is excited that the STEAM laboratories will further strengthen the application of STEAM learning that the company has continued to promote in schools through the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
“The STEP, equips Secondary School teachers with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to teach students STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning model.
According to her, teachers are critical factors towards achieving quality education, hence, in 2020, Seplat commenced the STEP initiative to empower teachers with the essential STEAM knowledge and skill sets.
She added that 634 teachers and over 25,000 students in Delta and Edo States secondary schools have benefited from the programme.
“Seplat is pleased to note that the STEP-trained teachers at the first school to receive the STEAM lab, Ihogbe College, Benin City, had, despite a relative lack of infrastructure at the school, demonstrated outstanding achievement by applying their learning”.
Also speaking, the Director, New Energy Seplat Energy, Mr Effiong Okon, said STEP initiative had moved to the next step by investing in the STEAM Lab and providing unique gadgets.
“Seplat STEAM Lab consist of science devices such as electrical kits, chemical supplies, computers, art materials, and a projector. In addition, there is provision for a whole suite of online STEAM resources to support 3D model creation, develop coding skills, control robotics among others.
On her part, the Edo state Commissioner for Education, Edo State, Dr Joan Oviawe, while commending Seplat for the laboratory, said the gesture supports the state government’s drive to enhance the role of technology in improving the quality of education.
The Principal of Ihogbe College, Barrister Johnson Egharevda, however noted the school’s STEP-trained teachers have developed power banks based on knowledge gained from the training.
