Ilorin — In furtherance of their corporate social responsibilities to different communities the NNPC, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, operator of OML 130 and partners have commissioned and handed over a women development and skills acquisition center in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.
The Women development and skills acquisition center is designed to provide an enabling environment for women and young people to learn skills and create employment in Omu-Aran.
The self-sustaining skill acquisition center is expected to reduce women and youth unemployment and restiveness in the communities around the state as well as generate income.
The fully equipped development center consists of four training halls for fashion designing and tailoring, catering and hotel management, computer training and mixed training facility, sick-bay, over 400 seater auditorium and lounge supported with a solar power generating unit of four training halls for fashion designing and tailoring, catering and hotel management, computer training and mixed training facility, sick-bay, over 400 seater auditorium and lounge supported with a solar power generating unit and a 40KVA generator.
In his welcome address, Mr. Bala Wunti, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services who was represented by Mrs. Bunmi Lawson said that the project which aligns with sustainable development goals, SDGs, was part of efforts to mitigate various identified gaps.
He noted that the center will help provide relief to the people of Kwara state for the intended purpose, adding that the partners would continue to champion the implementation of SDGs.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Sangster, who was represented by Mr. George Oguachuba, Executive Director, People and Country Service pointed out that the project is among 8 projects scheduled for commissioning in November 2022 while another 19 projects are under construction and shall be commissioned on completion.
Speaking on the approach used, Mr. Sangster explained that the use of the ‘Project Managers’ approach made the delivery of projects in remote locations faster and better.
“It is important to note that these projects were realized using the novel approach of ‘Project Manager’. This approach which is new in the industry permits the delivery of projects in remote and challenging environments while ensuring the use of local expertise and stakeholder engagement.
“I am very happy the pilot projects were successful. We are using the Return on Experience, to improve our processes and deliver successive phases faster and better.
The Omu-Aran community leaders and other stakeholders, represented by the Chairman of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Major General Olayemi Lasisi Abidoya (rtd) applauded NNPC Limited, TotalEnergies, Sapetro and other partners for finding them worthy to be among beneficiaries and urged other organizations to emulate them.
“This development and skill-acquisition center will go a long way in solving societal problems we face. We, the people of Omu-Aran, are grateful to TotalEnergies and NNPC for this initiative.”
Omu-Aran community is among the 64 communities that benefited from the corporate social responsibility of NNPC TotalEnergies Sapetro and others across the country’s geo-political zones.
OML 130 partners include NNPC Limited, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, PRIME (formerly Petrobras), Sapetro and CNOOC.
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