Science lab built in Nigeria to mark Nelson Mandela Day
Marvelous Otarigho’s donation aims to improve hands-on learning and inspire youth-led community change
ABUJA, Nigeria (MNTV) — In celebration of Nelson Mandela Day 2025, Marvelous Ruona Otarigho, a former participant in Nigeria’s mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, has built and donated a fully equipped science laboratory to Government Junior Secondary School in Life Camp, Abuja — a school that previously had no such facility.
NYSC is a one-year program that deploys Nigerian university graduates to different parts of the country to promote national unity and development.
Otarigho, who taught Basic Science at the school during her service year, said the idea came after she saw students struggling to grasp scientific concepts due to the lack of hands-on learning tools.
“They had no lab, so I began using my personal science tools for demonstrations,” she told Pulse Nigeria at the unveiling. “That’s when the idea of building a proper lab came to life.”
Despite facing financial constraints and skepticism from potential supporters, Otarigho completed the project using her own savings and donations from well-wishers.
The facility may also be made accessible to the public on a fee-based model to support its upkeep. She plans to start a science club to deepen student engagement.
“These students are the foundation of Nigeria’s future. We cannot expect national development without investing in them early,” she said.
The unveiling was intentionally held on Nelson Mandela Day, a global call to action for individuals to contribute to positive social change.
Lady Florence Wenegieme, Director of Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT-UBEB), commended the initiative as a strong example of public-private partnership in education.
“Science without practicals is incomplete,” she said. “Government efforts alone are not enough. Private contributions like this are vital.”
She noted that FCT-UBEB science coordinators monitor lab use and maintenance across Abuja’s six area councils.
School principal Mr. Nwachukwu Francis Nnanawa called the donation the most transformative project in the school’s history.
“Since we opened in 2005, we’ve never seen anything like this. The students are thrilled. This lab will help raise future engineers, doctors, and scientists,” he said.
Otarigho urged the government and young Nigerians alike to prioritize education.
“Children are the base of every nation,” she said. “If we invest in them early, the future is secured.”
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