Russia 2018: ‘Super Eagles can excel with huge youth talents’
An oil exploring firm, Esso, has handed over a fully equipped biology laboratory to Government Science School, Kotonkarfe, Kogi state.
The firm, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, in partnership with Adolescent Action Pact (AAP), said it spent nearly N4 million to reconstruct the laboratory, refurbish it and supply equipment to “create an enabling environment for the study of biology,” said Nigel Cookey-Gam, government and business relations manager at Esso.
“Once again [Esso] has demonstrated its unwavering commitment towards the support of the study of sciences in secondary schools with this project,” said Cookey-Gam.
“[Esso], in making this commendable investment, expects that the venture will both enhance the quality of teaching of biology as well as the outcome of the external examinations in Government Science School Koton-Karfe, he added.
Equipment installed in the lab include klinostat, human development models, microscopes, island benches, babyin-utero models.
Speaking on the initiative, John Ocholi, field coordinator of AAP expressed the hope that all stakeholders will be engaged to ensure that the biology laboratory is used and maintained in such a way as to contribute positively towards raising the standards of science study in the school.
He hoped that governments and other corporate organizations will devote consistent efforts towards supporting the study of science in schools. The Super Eagles can excel at the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the quality of players Nigeria has all over the world, said a sports enthusiast, Stanley Osagie, who is also a lawmaker in the Edo House of Assembly.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, he said Nigeria has the advantage of having many overseas-based players.
“The Super Eagles can shock the whole world in Russia next year. I am not scared of their opponents at all. The team has all the players needed to excel, because of the kind of experience they have playing abroad,” he said.
The APC lawmaker who represents Edo South-East said there was no need to be scared of any threat the likes of Argentina, Croatia and Iceland could pose to the Eagles.
Osagie said: “They are countries like us. We have what they have, and even more than what they have. If we play well, we will go places in Russia. I am confident about that.”
He praised Greenbox Facilities Limited for organising a novelty match to expose hidden talents. The Abuja-based company last Saturday organised the match for its staff, with Team A beating Team B 4-1 after coming from a goal down.
The lawmaker who took the match’s ceremonial kickoff also said, “If other private organisations can come up with this kind of initiative, Nigeria will be better for it. It has pointed the way forward, for us to see new talents and even help the unemployed.”