The NNPC E&P Limited/ Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) has graduated 331 teachers and 27 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE) at the 2024 edition of the Seplat JV Education Summit and Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) graduation ceremony for Edo and Delta states.
The events, which held in Benin City, 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.
Seplat Energy said that both 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. For this edition, which is the fourth, a total of 358 teachers graduated from the programme and were presented with requisite certificates.
The programme is targeted at secondary school teachers in public and private schools in Delta and Edo states, including the communities where Seplat Energy operates. It is a six-month intensive training programme which kicks off with a four-day residential workshop aimed to provide leadership and self-improvement training, training on STEAM modules and its application to teaching. The teachers are also provided with STEAM gadgets and Apps to support their delivery of quality teaching in their schools.
In his remarks, Chief Operating Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, Mr. Samson Ezugworie, lauded the governments of Edo and Delta states, and the NNPC for earnestly working with the management of Seplat Energy to drive the STEP initiative.The commitment, he said, 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.
Speaking further he said “To the teachers in the room, you shape individuals, and you should take pride in your work. I’m sure your teachers would also be proud to see you, knowing you were once their student, bringing them a sense of satisfaction. Always remember that wisdom is the key.”
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.
