Kufre Etuk
CROSS RIVER – Star Ultra Deep Petroleum LTD, a Chevron company, in collaboration with Cross River State Government, and other stakeholders has concluded a five day training for teachers in public schools as well as donated teaching and learning aids to five secondary schools in the state.
The five days capacity development, and donation of teaching and learning aids which took place at West African People’s Institute, Calabar, had teachers trained on safety, security, classroom management, environment and ICTs.
Speaking at the donation of learning and teaching aids to students and teachers, the Director Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Limited, Mr. Richard Kennedy represented by Mr. Ugo Mgbemene Christopher, appreciated Cross River State Government, State Ministry of Education and the NNPC which he described as senior partner, for their collaboration to the success of the event.
He expressed belief that the teaching and learning aids donated to the five benefitting public schools will assist in high grading teaching, learning and empower students for the challenges of the future.
“Partnership is one of the core values in Chevron companies and we are happy to have partnered with the Cross River State Government and other stakeholders to make today’s event a reality.
“The intervention of the Star Ultra Deep Petroleum Ltd and its co-venturers in OML 140 block is primarily to assist the government improve the supply of critical books and teaching aids in Nigerian schools and increase teachers’ capacity in using modern technique to impart desired knowledge to students.
“Apart from donation of teaching aids to schools in Nigeria, Chevron with its affiliates and co-venturers has made significant contributions over the years to raising the standard of education and ensuring Nigeria has requisite manpower for sustainable development and , also more access to good healthcare through its interventions in the health sector.”
The Director revealed that the partners have also Instituted specialised educational scholarship programmes in support of health and manpower development in Nigeria through targeted support for medical, nursing, laboratory sciences and engineering students.
He pointed out that for over five decades of operation in Nigeria, Chevron is proud to add value to the people of Nigeria and contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman, Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd Chief Reggie Uduhiri, expressed hope that the company’s support for educational and economic empowerment programmes in the country will positively impact on the academic performances of youths and growth of entrepreneurship for the sustainable development of he country.
The Chairman who was represented at the event by Jane Coker, averred that Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd is working with its co-venturers to assist Government of Cross River State and the Federal Ministry of Education to raise the standard of education to another level.
“The donations we are making today reflects our belief that education and skills acquisition are pivotal to the sustainable development of a country. And this is our contribution to make our country great.
“OMG with other stakeholders in OML 140, has also sponsored economic empowerment programmes in Anambra, Niger and Oyo states, aimed at building capacity in young Nigerians and helping them to be self-reliant.”
He noted that the intervention has led to employment creation, poverty reduction and livelihood improvement as well as development of rural-based cottage industries.
Teaching and learning aids donated to schools during the training.
Earlier, the representative of Cross River State Government and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs. Aniedi Ekpenyong thanked Chevron, Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd, and other partners for assisting the state government trained teachers as well as providing teaching and learning aids to five schools.
She apologized on behalf of the State Governor and the Commissioner for Education, as she said they were attending to urgent state matters.
The Permanent Secretary appealed for more supports in training teachers and equipping schools, adding that the state Ministry of Education is carrying out a comprehensive need assessment of public schools for proper communication to the state Governor.
Mrs. Ekpenyong urged the benefitting teachers to go back and train others from what they learnt.
Also speaking, the Director of Schools in the state Ministry of Education, Mrs. Charity Otoho who also participated in the training, thanked participants and encouraged them to put into practice what they learnt.
The highpoint of the event was the distribution of books, 100 desktop computers and teaching aids to five public secondary schools in the state which are :Etung Comprehensive Secondary School, Bendegehe, Ekiem; Kagbong Secondary Commercial School, Ikpong; Government Secondary School, Anatigha; Girls Secondary School, Obudu; and Community Secondary School, Ugep.
