Mkpoikana Udoma
07 February 2019, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC, on Wednesday celebrated senior citizens in its land assets communities, which is made up of over 200 communities.
The event tagged, SPDC Management Day Out with the Elderly in Land Hub Communities, started with free medical checkups for the senior citizens. There was also dance, jokes and lecture session as well as distribution of gift items and foodstuffs to the elderly people.
SPDC Asset Manager, Land Hub, Mr Sam Ezugworie, who disclosed that the event was in its third year, said it was imperative to celebrate and appreciate the elders and that it was not only when there was crises that they should be sought after.
Ezugworie explained that every community within Shell’s land asset in Nigeria was well represented at the event.
According to him, “This is an initiative we took three years ago, where we just pull out elders and key representatives from our neighbours and the areas where we operate to appreciate them.
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“It is not only when we have problem that we run to them, it is good to also appreciate them when we don’t have problems, so that when we have problems either with our neighbors or stakeholders, we can easily go to them and with the goodwill that we have created, then they will be able to listen to us because indeed we truly care.”
Also, the Principal Environment Adviser, SPDC, Prof Eunice Nwachukwu, counselled the senior citizens on dangers of plastic pollution.
Nwachukwu encouraged them to replace their plastic bags, plastic utensils with jute bags. and with steel utensils.
“It (plastic) does not dissolved nor decay. Plastics is a nightmare and harmful to humans, plants and animals.
“Please do not throw away your plastic waste, keep them for recycling and also make use of jute bags and steel utensils,” she said.
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Speaking on behalf of the senior citizens, Eze Nkwocha Innocent, commended SPDC for organising the event for them and most especially for the free medical checkup afforded them.
Innocent said many of them have not undergone good medical checkups in years, while pledging that they will try their best to minimise the use and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste.