Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited (TENOS, a Chevron company) and NNPCL Upstream Investment Management Services Limited (NUIMS) has donated a block of Model Classroom facilities to Iwere College, Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The project was executed and donated to the college on Tuesday, November 22, 2022 in a colourful handover ceremony.
In his address of welcome, Mr Bobby Hulett, Director, Star Deepwater Petroleum said that the project was part of the company’s commitment to providing quality education as well as adding values to the environment it operates and beyond.
Hulett represented by Senior Government Affairs Representative, Olujide Abimbola, acknowledged the support of the people and government of the state in ensuring that the project came to a reality and assured that the Agbami parties would continue to add values to Nigerians through various development projects.
“We are confident that this block of classroom being inaugurated today will serve as a springboard for other students to further their education and develop into critical manpower assets for our nation.
“I challenge our students to make the best of the opportunity they have to acquire sound education and emerged highly competent professionals in the society,” he said.
The director said that the company had embarked on other several projects in the areas of education, health, and economic development adding that some were already completed while others were ongoing.
According to him, some of the projects included: science laboratory, model classroom blocks and chest clinics among others and maintained that the company believed in the old axiom that knowledge was power and key to sustainable growth.
Hulett said that the company had in addition instituted a specialised educational scholarship program in support of health manpower development in Nigeria.
He said that the scholarship scheme was targeted at students in the medical, nursing, laboratory sciences and engineering adding that no fewer than 2,767 students had benefited for the program in Delta State.
Also speaking, the Group General Manager (NUIMS), Mr Bala Wunti said that quality education was fundamental to the growth and development of any society and expressed joy over the project.
Represented by Mrs Edith Lawson, Wunti said that NUIMS was saddled with the responsibility of managing the investment of the federal government in the upstream sector for oil and gas industry to ensure a good returns on invested capital.
He said that in 2022, NNPC Ltd had awarded over 7000 scholarship in different categories ranging from secondary schools to post graduate studies both in the country and overseas to Nigeria students.
“It is our culture to collaborate with our partners on social and educational investment to support the federal government in providing quality education to it’s citizens.
“We have also implemented various projects in the areas of education, skill acquisitions, economic empowerment, healthcare facilities, solar power and other infrastructural intervention project.
“We are delighted to witnessing the inauguration of this critical project. I urged the school authority to make the best use of this facility,” he said.
Wunti said that the projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the various identified gaps in line with the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
“We appreciate our partners in OML 132 and on behalf of NNPC Ltd, I extend our appreciation to the state government and the management of Iwere College.
“I also appreciate our partner, operator of OML132 for their support and collaboration in delivering this intervention,” Wunti.
said.
Former Chairman, Warri North Local Government Area, Mr Aduge Okorodudu thanked the Chevron for the donation and prayed God to enlarge the oil and gas giant.
Okorodudu urged the community to make the best use of the facilities and also ensured it’s proper maintenance.
Speaking with newsmen on the sideline, Okorodudu said that the project contained six classrooms, library, Laboratory, principal’s office, staff rooms, sickbay, 22 toilets and a standby generating set.
Principal of Iwere College, Mrs Victoria Udele in her remark, thanked the Chevron and NUIMS for the project and prayed God to continue to use them to assist the government.
“I was not not here when the project started but I am privileged to witness the inauguration. Glory be to God,” she said.
Mrs Ogban M.E, Chief Inspector of Education who represented the Delta State Commissioner for Education thanked the company for the donation and appealed to the teachers and students to make judicious use of the project.
Chief Mike Odeli, one of the representatives of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 111 at the event, thanked the company and the project contractor for the speedy completion of work.
On his part, the president of Iwere College Old Students Association, Mr George Iluwa thanked the company and appeal for the provision of internal road network in the area.
Representatives of the Olu of Warri, received the facility on behalf of the management and students of Iwere College.
