Another set of 350 teachers in Edo and Delta States on Saturday graduated from the Seplat JV Energy education empowerment programme in its host communities.
The teachers, who were drawn from public and private schools in the two states, were trained in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) under the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The training which was done in collaboration with NNPC limited, was geared towards equipping the teachers with skills to effectively deliver STEAM knowledge to the students.
Speaking at the teachers’ graduation ceremony and Education Summit jointly organised by Seplat JV and NNPCL, Seplat Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Chioma Afe, said that the education value chain played a crucial role in shaping the workforce and fostering economic development.
Afe reiterated that collective efforts were vital in building a skilled and productive workforce, adding that despite efforts to increase access to quality education, disparities in resources persisted across different regions, particularly in secondary education.
“We want to address the challenges within the education value chain, especially in the areas where Seplat and NNPC operate, as well as across the nation.
“At the foundation of the education value chain lies 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, Afe said.
According to her, collaboration between the private sector, educational institutions, and the government was essential to improve the quality of teaching and learning outcomes.
Earlier, the Chief Operating Officer, Seplat JV, Mr Samson Ezugworie said, Seplat recognised the problem and the need to confront it head-on.
Ezugworie noted that the country’s education system today was not where it should be adding that, Seplat understood 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,” he said.
Also, Dr. Joan Ovaiwe, Edo State Commissioner for Education, in her goodwill message, thanked Seplat JV Energy and NNPCL for supporting teachers in Edo and Delta
Ovaiwe noted that, under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Edo State had focused on education reform for the past seven years through Edo Best framework.
The Keynote speaker, Akinyele Akin-Olusoji, the Group Managing Director NewGlobe, said there was compelling evidence that improved quality of education, would produce a more educated and skilled labour force.
Speaking on the theme, transforming the theme, “Education Workforce: a Critical Success Factor to Nation Building,” Akin-Olusoji said an improved education system would accelerate the growth in GDP each year by 0.5% at the minimum.
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