The NNPC E&P Limited/ Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) has graduated 358 teachers at the 2024 edition of the Seplat JV Education Summit and Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) graduation ceremony for Edo and Delta states.
This comprises of 331 teachers and 27 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE). The events, held in Benin, are hinged on the Joint Venture’s continued quest to contribute towards the improvement of quality education in the communities and states where Seplat Energy operates, and by extension Nigeria. Public and private school teachers were beneficiaries of the programme.
STEP is designed to promote teacher’s creative thinking, provide training on teaching applications for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), provide leadership and self-improvement training, allow for higher student’s engagement, and offer a well-rounded education for recipients of the programme.
Speaking, the chief operating officer, Seplat Energy Plc, said the commitment showed that the organisations recognised the problem facing the education sector and the need to confront it head-on.
“The country’s education system today is not where it should be, and we understand its pivotal role in development. If the youths of this country are not developed, there’s a problem. This shared drive among Seplat, our senior partners, and the state governments in the areas we operate is what propels us forward,” Ezugworie explained.
The MD, Seplat West Limited, Seplat Energy, Ayodele Olatunde said the programme stands as a beacon of our unwavering commitment to championing and empowering educators in their noble quest for excellence.
Olatunde, who was represented by the Base manager, Western Asset, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine, said, the collective mission of the NEPL/Seplat JV is to equip teachers with the tools, knowledge, and resources essential for thriving in today’s dynamic educational landscape while leaving an indelible mark on the lives of their students.
The director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Mrs. Chioma Afe explained that the education value chain plays a crucial role in shaping the workforce and fostering economic development.
Addressing the challenges within the education value chain, especially, in the areas where Seplat and NNPC operate, as well as across the nation, Afe said, “At the foundation of the education value chain lie primary and secondary education, crucial for laying the groundwork for future learning. However, access to quality early education, especially in rural areas, remains a challenge. This affects children’s ability to proceed to higher education or enter the workforce.”
The Edo commissioner for education, Dr. Joan Ovaiwe thanked Seplat JV and NEPL for supporting teachers in Edo and Delta, noting that, under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Edo has been focused on education reform for the past seven years through the Edo Best framework.
The group managing director NewGlobe, Akin-Olusoji Akinyele said, there is a compelling evidence that improved quality of education would produce a more educated and skilled labour force
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