The Offshore Lab, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), has launched its second Junior Lab technology hub in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Located at Daisy’s Home for Special Children, this initiative aims to equip disadvantaged children with practical skills in technology and innovation.
The Junior Lab program focuses on empowering underserved communities by providing state-of-the-art learning centers equipped with tailored curricula and professional trainers. The new hub will specialize in **agrotechnology**, offering students hands-on experience with tools like hydroponics, automated sensors, and irrigation systems. A greenhouse facility will also be available for practical learning, preparing children for the agri-tech sector, which is vital to Nigeria’s development.
This follows the success of the first Junior Lab, established last year at Badamia Home in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The initiative aligns with the Offshore Lab’s mission to foster capacity building, project delivery, and social innovation across Nigeria.
According to the World Economic Forum, Africa’s digital economy could contribute $180 billion to GDP by 2025. Junior Lab addresses this potential by equipping children with essential digital skills, preparing them for careers in engineering, agri-tech, and digital innovation, while also narrowing the digital divide in Nigeria.
Junior Lab forms part of a larger plan to establish a nationwide network of ICT hubs. These labs will tackle critical challenges in Agriculture and Climate Tech, Manufacturing and Production, Energy and Renewables, and Digital Innovation. By creating opportunities for children in underserved communities, the initiative seeks to build a more inclusive and skilled workforce for Nigeria’s future.
This latest launch reinforces The Offshore Lab’s commitment to using technology education as a tool for social transformation.
