The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited and Seplat Energy Joint Venture has commissioned two Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) laboratories at Ogbe and Uselu Secondary Schools in Edo State as part of efforts to promote educational sustainability and innovation.

The facilities, inaugurated in Benin City, bring the total number of STEAM labs established by the JV in Edo State to nine, and 14 across Edo and Delta States.

Speaking at the commissioning, Seplat’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, said the initiative reflects the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening education through practical learning tools and sustained community investment.

She noted that the labs are equipped with modern learning infrastructure and solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted operation, adding that similar projects would be extended to other states where the company operates.

According to her, the initiative complements other interventions such as teacher empowerment programmes, quiz competitions, and energy access projects aimed at improving educational outcomes.

The Managing Director of NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, represented by Reginald Duke, said the laboratories are designed to enhance creativity, critical thinking, and practical skills among students, stressing that education remains central to sustainable national development.

Former Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, described the project as a major investment in human capital development and urged other corporate bodies to emulate the JV’s commitment to social responsibility.

The Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Ministry of Education, Edith Ebomoyi, also hailed the initiative as a milestone in improving the state’s education system.

School principals from the benefiting institutions pledged to safeguard the facilities and ensure they are effectively utilized to achieve their intended purpose.