Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, on Friday affirmed her commitment towards reducing its carbon footprint in the country, through the use of renewable and cleaner forms of energy.
Total disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the maiden NNPC/TEPNG-sponsored capacity building programme, where 40 women from OML 58 communities were trained on the use and production of organic cosmetics.
Speaking on the theme ‘Let’s Go Organic’, Total Deputy General Manager, Community Affairs and Development, Mr James Urho, assured that the company’s vision is to become “The Responsible Energy Major”.
Urho, represented by the Capacity Development Manager, Total, Mrs. Erica Ukey-Omodu, said the 40 beneficiaries of the programme were trained for two weeks on the vast resources of nature and how to maxmize the use of these natural ingredients to produce environmentally friendly cosmetics.
“This is a TEPNG’s capacity building initiative aimed at aligning with one of our group’s objective to work relentlessly towards reducing our carbon footprints not only in our operational sites but in every sphere of our activities.
“Total has as its vision, to become “The Responsible Energy Major”. We are principally an oil and gas exploration and production organisation but with a difference.
“We are passionate about the environment and are striving to bequest a better planet to those who are coming after us. This underlines our foray into areas that encourage the use of renewable and cleaner forms of energy.”
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Total further assured it will continue to sponsor the programme for many more years, with the hope to see financially empowered women who will be ambassadors of the success stories that will come out of the programme.
“We are focused especially on training or women in this programme because you are the closest to mother-earth and we have heard it said time and again that when you train a woman, you train a nation.
“Apart from the fact this training is teaching you to befriend planet earth, it is also showing you how you can tap into earth’s infinite and infinite resources to achieve self sustainability and financial independence.
“This is only the beginning of your journey as I told you at the start of your training, we intend to identify very serious ones amongst you, for the next level. I also told you that the market for your products was very large and you would hardly be able to satisfy even the demands of your immediate neighbourhoods not to talk of Nigeria. In this wise, you are encouraged to form partnerships, pool your resources together, think big, start small and grow.
“TEPNG will be available to empower those of you who show promising capabilities in every possible way. Even as you grasp tenaciously at the practical essence of this training please remain conscious of our environment and strive to reduce, reuse and recycle the raw materials for the good of our planet’s finite and infinite resources,” Total said.
The beneficiaries were given starter packs which include hand blender, moulds, measuring scales, camwood, scrubber, soda ash, spatula, bee wax, sunflower oil, coconut oil etc.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Tasie Ijeoma Juliet, said it was 14 days of wonderful experience, as they were taught how to use organic food items to produce cosmetics, for a healthy environment.
“I never knew that we can use the food and spices we eat for the beautification of our body. Now I have learnt how to use papaya to make soap, rice to make shampoo; moringa, coconut, cucumber, carrot to make body wash, face scrub, soap, body cream etc, not just for my family but to produce for commercial purposes.
“We are not just going to be entrepreneurs, but employers of labour. On behalf of OML58 communities, may God bless Total E&P for this lifetime opportunity.”