Mkpoikana Udoma
26 March 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Total Exploration and Producing Company of Nigeria, TEPNG, has trained over 800 women from its host communities in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states on capacity development.
The training which was aimed at repositioning the women to achieve their quest for gender parity, according to the company, was in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, tagged; ‘Be Bold for Change.’
The Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District Total, Mr. Francois Le Cocq, said the essence of the workshop was for women to be able to surmount myriad of problems confronting them in the society and to be able to maintain peace in their respective communities.
Le Cocq said that TEPNG had taken up the vision of fast-tracking gender parity in the society, noting that women have vital roles in the development of any society.
“To us in TEPNG we have deliberately decided to align ourselves to the fast track in gender parity. In the past one year women development activities have been elevated to heights never seen before in the company with the dedication of part of our job to women development.
“For those of you who are keen watchers of TEPNG activities you will notice that women development programmes have received a boost never seen before.
“To this end TEPNG as a company is committed to policies that stand out against gender-based discrimination, marginalised, violence, human rights abuses and unequal access to education and healthcare. TEPNG provides equal opportunities in leadership and participation for both genders”, he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Women Affairs in Rivers State, Mrs. Ukel Oyaghiri, commended Total for organising the workshop for women in their communities of operation, describing it as a right step in the right direction.
Oyaghiri who charged women to be bold in their dealings to be able to effect the need change in their environment and in the society at large, also charged women to take quest for knowledge seriously.
“A woman who is not properly trained with the requisite skills cannot be bold enough for change. It is when the woman is trained that she can compete favourably to effect the needed change.
“This programme is organised to give women the needed knowledge and understanding that will pur them to take bold actions and steps in politics, business, education etc. in order to close the gender gap and gradually ensure that attainment of vision 2030,” the commissioner said.
