By Bitrus Osagie
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has commended the MTN Foundation for upgrading science laboratories in the state.
Yahaya gave the commendation while speaking during the inauguration of the newly-renovated science laboratories at Government Science Secondary School, Gombe.
The Governor was represented by the state’s Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Abdullahi Garkuwa said that the intervention would complement government efforts at revamping schools infrastructure.
According to him, the science laboratories would encourage students of the school to enhance their knowledge of science, technology and innovation.
He said that the foundation’s intervention which he said was part of MTN’s corporate social responsibilities to Gombe State would help improve students’ understanding of the practical teaching of core science subjects.
According to the Governor, MTN Foundation had over the past years impacted positively on the lives of the people of Gombe State through the health, education and other sectors.
He explained that the support would help lay a good foundation that will in the future boost manpower in the health sector.
Corroborating the governor, Hajiya Ashaitu Maigari, the state’s Commissioner for Education said MTN’s intervention would bring improvement in the state’s education sector.
According to her, over 3, 000 students would benefit from the facilities that have been provided by MTN Foundation, stated that learning was a major challenge, and she expressed optimism that the intervention would help address that through practical teaching.
She said that the state government had invested several billions of Naira in revamping and upgrading schools across the state, hence MTN’s intervention “is highly commendable.”
Mr Hamza Ibrahim, Senior Manager with MTN, said his organisation had provided over 10 projects to the benefit of people in the state.
“We have invested hundreds of millions in making sure that students of the school have the equipment to learn effectively.
“In Gombe, we have done close to 10 projects over a couple of years, from boreholes, laboratories like this, health facilities renovated, and many more,” Ibrahim said.