Secondary teachers and chief Inspectors of Education, CIE, in Edo and Delta State, who participated in the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme, STEP, organised by Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, an indigenous energy company operating in the two states, were last Friday awarded their certificates, having concluded their three-month training on the programme.
Numbering 143, out of which 100 were secondary school teachers and 43 CIEs, the STEP initiative is an educational programme created by the leading indigenous energy company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and its partners, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), to improve the country’s standard of education, particularly for host States.
The training began for the 143 participants drawn from Edo and Delta states, in November 2020, with an initial five-day residential retreat, after which they continued training via the E-Learning platform developed for the programme.
SEPLAT, over the years, had made significant impacts with critical initiatives focused on providing quality education for states of its operations and the country. The Company introduced STEP, a customized training programme for secondary school teachers to enhance its achievements on Sustainability Development Goal 4 for inclusive and equitable quality education. The programme is a three-month intensive training programme which equips teachers with tools to teach STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics).
As part of the activities lined up to commemorate the certificate presentation ceremony held on March 19, 2021, Seplat hosted an Education Round Table further to explore the right policy formulation for quality education. The theme for the round table was Provision of Quality Education: A National Priority.
The Education Roundtable, had educational experts and professionals in a highly engaging panel session moderated by Professor Pat Utomi, with the former Edo State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, giving the Keynote Address.
The panelists for the Education Roundtable included: the Director, External Affairs and Communications, Seplat, Dr Chioma Nwachuku; Professor of Guidance and Counselling at Ambrose Alli University, Oyaziwo Aluede; Director, Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, Prof. Ocholi Ekundayo Fehintola; Professor of Educational Management, University of Ibadan, Benedict Oyovwevotu Emunemu and the Principal Managing Partner, Teach Smart Eduservices, Sola Okunkpolor.
The specially designed programme provided training on teaching applications for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and leadership and self-improvement. The testimonies of recipients of the maiden STEP highlighted the numerous benefits they gained from the programme, including enhancing their creative thinking, allowing for higher student engagement, and offering a well-rounded education.
Welcoming dignitaries to the event, Roger Brown, the Chief Executive Officer, Seplat, represented by Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, Director of External Affairs and Communications, said “over the years, Seplat has invested significantly in various educational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 4, which speaks to education for all”.
“At Seplat, we strongly believe that education is the bedrock for national development and our STEP deployment aims to enhance teachers’ competencies and empower them with the knowledge and skills to implement STEAM education, amongst other benefits. Seplat is committed to providing this programme annually because of its relevance and positive multiplier effects on boosting quality education”, Brown reiterated.
Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, in her remarks, said: “Seplat is playing an invaluable role in enhancing the quality of education with the many educational programmes offered through the Company’s CSR initiatives. With the STEP programme, the Company now has a full boutique of programmes impacting the entire education value chain. Seplat educational programmes now cover improving school infrastructure, enhancing students’ academic performance, and building the skills and competencies of teachers, amongst others.
In her keynote, Prof. Osarenren, said what Seplat had done could not be quantified as it would continue to drive critical thinking and generate problem-solving skills. She, therefore, urged the recipients of the programme to utilize the acquired knowledge to bear positive impacts on their students whilst remaining change agents, mentors and character builders, adding that: “Nobody can make you inferior without their consent.”
Prof. Utomi, while opening the Education Roundtable called on the society to appreciate and show respect for teachers, adding that the impacts teachers make in the lives of students and community remained immeasurable.
According to Utomi, teachers needed to continue to exhibit a strong passion for their profession with the undying commitment to sustaining the future generation. Misery amongst the people could only be effectively addressed by quality education.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who was represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Stella-Marris Imasuen, commended the company for the initiative, adding that the government alone could not solve the problems confronting the nation’s education.
Obaseki therefore called on other corporate bodies to emulate what Seplat had done and appealed to the company not to drop the ball, but to continue to partner with the government to achieve the best results for the teachers and students alike.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state.
and then