Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As part of its corporate social responsibility, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, is currently organising a computer-based proficiency training for senior secondary schools students of OML 58 host communities in Rivers State.
The students, who are in their final year and preparing to write the 2020 WASSCE and UTME, according to Total, are drawn from 21 host communities of OML 58, including Amah, Egi, Ekpeye, Elele, Idu, Rumuekpe, Rumuji and Ndele.
Speaking in Obite, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, TOTAL’s Deputy General Manager, Community Affairs and Development, Mr James Urho, said the computer proficiency training is targeted at 3,000 senior students in public secondary schools from OML58 host communities.
Urho disclosed that the training programme forms part of the sustained efforts of the NNPC/TEPNG’s Joint Venture to support the Federal and State Governments in the training of secondary school students.
“This training programme seeks to enhance the computer literacy of senior secondary school students who live in the rural communities of our operations.
“This is a large-scale hands-on training scheduled to last for a period of five weeks at the end which about 3000 students would have received four days training each, on how to use the computer during external computer-based testing and examinations amongst other invaluable lessons.
“This training is also a demonstration of our commitment to supporting the continuous development of education in Rivers State and a clear indication of our recognition of the important place our scholars occupy in the future development of our society.”
Urho, represented by Capacity Development Manager, Total, Mrs. Erika Ukey-Omodu, urged the students to be of good behaviour during the training and in their forthcoming external examinations, and to shun everu temptation to engage in exam malpractice.
“To our dear students, as you go through the various modules of this training, please be attentive to your instructors, write down what you are being taiught. Do not commit everything to memory as you may forget some important lessons.
“TEPNG’s corporate social responsibility policy aims at contributing to the social education and economic development of our host communities through the implementation of programmes such as this. We are also committed in the areas of scholarships awards, skills acquisition trainings, teachers’ education/development trainings and several other education enhancing programmes.”
Also speaking, the facilitator of the training and Managing Director of ACE International Training Centre, Festus Ediae, who commended TOTAL for organizing the computer training for students in rural communities, also tasked the students to make good use of the opportunity.
“Total has always been a trail blazer. I want to thank the Capacity Development Manager of TOTAL for organizing this scheme.
“This training is to build your future, there is no profession today that you can do without computer, whether you want to be a teacher, doctor, engineer, computer is the basis.
“The company has done their own part, it is left for you to do your own part. What you have learnt is going to take you for a lifetime.”
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting students, Master Ekwueme Godstime Goodluck, from Government Secondary School Akabuka, said the training has made him to become a computer literate.
Goodluck also said the training equipped him with UTME experience, even when he has not sat for the exams before.
According to him, “I have learnt how to make use of the computer, in terms of writing computer based exams like UTME. The training has also arouse my passion for technology.
“I am confident that if I sit for UTME or any exams that requires computer, I will pass with good grades because I can now handle a computer. I also want to thank the sponsors of this training, who have made it possible for us come here and got trained in computer appreciation.”
