Chevron to spend N188m in training 40 Delta youths on agriculture

Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, in continuation of its partnership with communities in Delta State in improving quality of life is spending over N188million for training of 40 Deltans in agriculture. This was revealed by ‎Mr. Deji Haastrop, GM, policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL during the launch of “Youth Agripreneur Project” Thursday at Egbokodo, Delta State. He states that the agricultural training progra‎m is in line with the SMART agenda of the state government. Haastrop stated that Chevron has spent over N16 billion in various development programmes in its eight regional development committees in the past 10years. According to him, “In the last 10years, the GMOU has engendered implementation of a wide range of infrastructural and non infrastructural projects in‎cluding water supplies, rural electrification projects, school, building, cottage hospitals, road and drainage networks etc. 

“In this Agripreneur program therefore, CNL is partnering with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), the EGCDCF and Itsekiri RDC to implement the pilot program with 40 trainees from the two RDCs. “The objectives of this pilot program, which will ‎gulp over N188million, include empowering youths to embrace agriculture and agribusiness as income generating activity and training them in various agricultural fields.” ‎On his part, Mr. Dafe Sejebor, Group GM, NNPC-NAPIMS said the Agripreneur program is c‎oming at a time the country is passing through challenging economic times due to low crude oil price. Represented by Mrs. Clementina Arubi, Deputy Manager, Community Development, Sejebor admonished trainees to take the training serious in order to reap the full benefits at the end of the program. He revealed that the GMoU process have benefited from hundreds of infrastructural projects that cut across plethora of areas with success and determination to do more. 

“The NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture remains committed to improving the quality of life of our communities and that is why we implement projects/programs through the GMoU that addresses the needs of the people.” Sejebor added. Miss Felicia Timinimi‎, one of the beneficiaries who spoke to Vanguard expressed gratitude to Chevron and the RDC for giving her the privilege of attending the training. She promised on behalf of the trainees to be dedicated and enthusiastic of putting the knowledge into use at the end with a view to achieving it’s objectives.

Source: Vanguard

Chevron rewards outstanding students

Determined to sustain excellence in the education system, the oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) has rewarded no fewer than six students for their outstanding performance in the essay competition instituted by the oil firm in Delta State.

The students are winners of the 15th edition of the Chris Ikomi Memorial Essay competition, with the theme: “Protecting People and the Environment.”

The yearly competition was instituted by NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture to immortalise Ikomi, a member of staff of the company, who was killed during the Warri ethnic crisis in 1991.

The winners in the Junior Secondary School category are Izibili Bella, a pupil of Springfield School, Sapele; Idris Taofeeq of Jenny Secondary School, Ekete; and Esiehor Oghene a pupil of Challenge Academy, Orhuwhorun.

In the Senior Secondary School category the winners are Ogbeide Christabel, an orphan and a student of Kudos Model School, Orhuwhorun; Emetitiri Oghenerunor of Challenge Academy, Orhuwhorun and Ojadovba Emuobonuvie, a student of Our Lady of Nigeria Secondary School, Oghara.

Of the 4,550 students, who entered for the competition at the Local Government Council level, only 450 qualified for the state finals in which the six students emerged for the final stage with three per category.

The General-Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) of the company, Deli Haastrup said the competition is an ideal way to manage conflict and instill essential life skills and knowledge for selfempowerment in the youths for nation building through creative thinking and writing.

He said: “Through this essay competition, we seek to continually remind ourselves of the loss which we suffer as a result of violence and invariably the lack of virtues of the skill of engagement.

The essay competition aimed at promoting the study of English Language usage among students in public and private secondary schools in Delta State, as well as boost fluency by means of articulating words and opinion excellently in English language.”

While he noted that the skills in English would, no doubt, have direct positive impact on the students’ studies, examinations and life after formal education, Haastrup explained that since the competition was launched in 2001, it has enhanced education standard in the state.

According to him, this is demonstrated through the topics, which he said “have tasked participants’ intellect and help in bringing about development.”

Haastrup, who was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Brikinn Esimaje, one of Chevron’s Area Managers, attested to the fruitful partnership between the company and the Delta State Government, saying the kinsmen of Ikomi have proudly identified with the competition and awards since its inception 15 years ago.


SOURCE: NEW TELEGRAPH

Ugboro crisis: Warring factions embrace peace

Peace has finally returned to the war-torn Ode-Ugborodo community in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The peace was facilitated by Pa J.O.S. Ayomike, Olaja-Orori Benson Omadeli and Eghare-Aja, Pa Wellington Ojoghor, recently at a reconciliation meeting with the warring factions.
It will be recalled that the internal feud was between two factions of the Ugborodo Trust Fund led by Mr David Tonwe and Dr Ayo Ayomike, over who controls funds accruing to the community spanning over five years.
The community played host to the multi-billion naira Chevron Tank farm and the Gas City Project hosting the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) projects.
Pa  Ayomike, while mending fences, listed the disadvantages brought about by the feuding parties to include underdevelopment and loss of direction.
To ensure a lasting peace, the octogenarian at the meeting suspended the two community factional executives of the Ugborodo Trust Fund who had been at centre of the crisis.
He called for unity of  the factions in order to, in one voice, fight and demand their legitimate rights from the companies operating in their area.
He traced the origin of the Ugborodo crisis to too much money and the greed by oil multinationals which lured some community youths into signing a Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) which was rejected in 2001 by leaders and elders of the community.
He alleged that they often colluded with outsiders to abandon well-meaning project that could benefit their people.
Ayomike cited the Koko and Escravos Shore Protection project and the Ogidigben Grammar School project, alleging that in spite of the only 10 per cent job done, executors of the project had already drawn and squandered about 98 per cent of the projects fund.
Meanwhile, the Ugborodo community leader, Mr Isaac Botosan, has said that the reconciliation meeting was the greatest thing that has happened to the community in recent years.
He added that all the warring factions have sheathed their sword, while exiled indigenes of the community are begging to return home.
The Chairman of the EPZ Interface Committee, Mr Austin Oborogbeyi, charged elders and youths to sustain the new-found peace and unity.


SOURCE: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Chevron reaffirms support for Nigerian tennis

General Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Deji Haastrup, has reiterated the company’s support for the growth of tennis in Nigeria.

Haastrup stated this on Saturday, during the closing ceremony of the NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis Clinic, at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

“Chevron recognises the important roles of sports in improving the physical and social wellbeing of the individual and community. In line with our social investment programme, Chevron has consistently supported the development of sports in Nigeria. Part of this is the NNPC/Chevron tennis programme, through which the company is contributing to the uplifting of tennis in the country,” Haastrup, who was represented on the occasion by Tunji Idowu, Manager, Socio Performance and Planning Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, said.

One hundred kids participated in this year’s clinic, where they were given intensive training and coaching by veteran coaches and trainers.

Haastrup said he is delighted with the progress of the clinic, which has produced some of the country’s brightest tennis talents.


He added, “I’m happy to say that the objective of the programme is being realised, as some prodigies of our tennis clinic programme have been competing and recording moderate successes for the country at international competitions.

“On Friday, Mathew Abamu and Oyin Quadri, both products of our tennis project, travelled to represent the country in an international tournament in Morocco. We are optimistic that with more exposure, they will get better.”


SOURCE: THE PUNCH