ExxonMobil will invest US$100 million over the next decade to strengthen science and technology education in Guyana, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods announced Monday at State House.
The announcement was made during a Republic Day reception hosted by President Irfaan Ali, as Guyana marked 56 years as a republic. ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge and members of the company’s global board were in attendance.
Woods said the Guyana STEM initiative will fund comprehensive teacher training and establish a nationwide network of STEM centers.
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“I’m extremely pleased to announce the ExxonMobil Guyana STEM initiative, a US$100 million investment over the next decade to reinvent and strengthen education in science, technology, and math all across Guyana,” he said. He added, “Our goal is very simple: inspiring the next generation of Guyana’s engineers and scientists.”
The initiative will begin with secondary school teacher training in math and science, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the University of Guyana. A student STEM center is planned for the University of Guyana campus, with completion targeted around 2028–2029. The programme aims to train thousands of educators and reach tens of thousands of students.
Woods said the investment builds on more than a decade of oil and gas development since the first discovery offshore Guyana. “Since our first discovery a little over 10 years ago, we’ve been committed to responsibly developing Guyana’s oil and natural gas resources,” he stated, noting that offshore production must create “opportunities for progress on shore.”
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ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge said the company’s presence in Guyana goes beyond production targets and project milestones.
“Guyana’s energy partner is more than a slogan to the people of Exxon Mobil. It reflects our long term commitment, supporting your vision for sustainable development and shared prosperity,” Routledge stated, as he welcomed the company’s global board to Georgetown for the Republic Day engagement.
President Ali said the focus on education was set from his earliest engagements with ExxonMobil after taking office in 2020.
“We have to ensure the next generation of Guyanese… are equipped with the necessary skills,” he said, linking the STEM initiative to Guyana’s long-term development strategy built on “innovation, education and entrepreneurship.” Ali described the investment as a direct outcome of discussions with ExxonMobil’s leadership and board, including engagements in the United States. He said the training of teachers and facilitators will begin well before the physical STEM center is completed.
The President also touched on the broader partnership with ExxonMobil, calling the company “our partner” and affirming that Guyana remains a stable investment destination where “the rule of law applies.”
ExxonMobil’s board is in Guyana this week for meetings and site visits, including offshore operations, as the company advances multiple oil developments in the Stabroek Block and evaluates further gas projects.
