Mkpoikana Udoma
08 December 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — French oil giant, Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, on Friday kicked off the 16th edition of its annual football competition for youths of its OML 58 communities in Rivers State.
OML58 which is operated by the French multinational comprises of communities in Emuoha, Ahoada-East, Ahoada-West, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Declaring open the tournament at Obite, ONELGA, Total’s Executive General Manager, Field Operations, Mr. Vincent Kiehl, said this year’s edition will be featuring for the first time, two communities from Ekpeye Kingdom.
Kiehl said the theme of this year’s tournament is ‘playing in search of enduring peace and reconstruction of the social values systems of our youths.’
According to him, “The NNPC/TEPNG joint venture is proud to identify with this noble project as part of our commitment to encourage and empower the youths through active engagement and skills training that will promote sustainable socio-economic development.
“16 teams will start the campaign towards one goal of winning the championship. Of these teams, two (Ihuowo and Odhio-Ugbokor communities both drawn from Ekpeye Kingdom) will be featuring for the first time.
“This year’s competition is a special edition. For this reason and in recognition of the festering security challenges currently beleaguering our communities, the usual age restriction has been relaxed for this year.
“It is against this background and our determination to encourage peace and reconciliation amongst our youths that we have adopted the theme, playing in search of enduring peace and reconstruction of the social values systems of our youths”
Kiehl who was represented at the event by the Manager, Community Relations, Engr Okechukwu Obara, enjoined all participating teams, managers and their supporters to maintain and consolidate the current peace by playing for friendship and unity amongst our teeming youths.
“The management of Total E&P Nigeria Limited and our JV partners remain committed to supporting this annual competition. You will recall that for three years now this competition has not been held in any community in Egi, Amah or Idu because of security challenges.
“We are glad to be back again and hope that this peace will continue to improve for the benefit of every one of us.”
