L-R: Sir David Onokpen, Prof. (Mrs.) Gloria Obuzor, President, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, area Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, and Professor Felix Okieime, Guest lecturer, during the 2016 Awokoya Memorial Chemistry Competition award ceremony for Secondary Schools during the weekend.

By Tejiri Ebikeme

Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clay Neff has reiterated the commitment of the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to improving quality education in Nigeria, noting that education was important to the development of a country.

Neff made this statement at the weekend during the ceremony for award of prizes for the 2016 Awokoya Memorial Competition in Chemistry held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

He said Chevron’s corporate believe is that “education remains a veritable tool for personal and social growth and sustained development,” adding that the JV has demonstrated commitment to qualitative education through investment in education infrastructures, sponsorship of manpower development programs and provision of scholarship.

Neff, who was represented by the Area Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Mr. Esimaje Brikinns, stressed that with the commitments of the Delta state Ministry for Education and the Chemical Society of Nigeria, NNPC/Chevron JV will stimulate children’s interest in the study of chemistry and other science and technology subjects.

He said the Awokoya Chemistry Competition was initiated and sponsored by the NNPC/Chevron JV to promote the study of the chemistry among secondary school students of Delta state and in memory of Professor Stephen Awokoya, a great chemist who died March 15, 1985.

While congratulating the students from Delta State for their great achievement for wining the competition back to back, Neff said they were pleased that their contribution to education were helping to improve the ability of Nigeria to develop quality manpower in different fields including, but not limited to the oil and gas industry.

“I am happy, on one hand, because the robust partnership between NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, the Chemical Society of Nigeria (SCN) and the Delta state Government on the Awokoya Memorial Competition in Chemstry has continued to grow over the years. On the other hand I am also happy because the reasons we all agreed to initiate and support the competition are being realized,” Neff said.

On his part, the Delta State Commissioner for Education (Basic/Secondary) Mr. Chiedu Ebie said the Awokoya Memorial Competition was in line with the State Government’s SMART agenda program under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, adding that the state government has ensured the development of education especially in the area of provision of science, vocational and technology equipment in Secondary Schools in the state.

The Commissioner, who was represented by Mr. David Onokpen, stressed that the state government was proud of the impressive performance of its student who emerged overall winners at this year’s competition, noting that their successful performance was a reflection of diligence and determination to excel.

The first overall prize winner of the competition went to Master Sorokwu Desmond of Lords and Kings Academy, Warri, while Master Diemesor Gabriel of Challenge Academy, Ovwian, received the second overall prize. Both students are from Delta state.