
OpeOluwani Akintayo
Lagos — In furtherance of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative to positively impact lives of its host communities, TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria and partners (CNOOC, SAPETRO and PRIME) on Wednesday commissioned and handed over a water borehole and treatment plant project at Ndibe community, Afikpo, Ebonyi State.
The Ndibe community, which plays host to five different schools (primary and secondary), now have access to clean water powered by 26 solar panels with a 25-year warranty lifespan.
Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mike Sangster, represented by Abiodun Afolabi, Executive Director, Strategy, Business and Asset Management, said other projects by the company scattered across the country, were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and technical education, maternal and child health, access to clean water and women and youth empowerment.
The projects, according to him; “are in congruence with the related United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. The locations of these projects have also been very carefully chosen for maximum impact, coming from a need assessment carried out before the deployment.
He said: “As already mentioned, the project we are commissioning today is one of the several projects being deployed across the entire country. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we could not be physically present with you today. However, we have adopted this efficient and effective remote commissioning strategy to ensure delivery of all completed projects. I thank our senior partners, NNPC, and our PSC partners, SAPETRO, PRIME and CNOOC, who have joined us in providing the means, the processes and the resources that enabled us to deploy these local development projects.
“I also thank our several stakeholders, including the State and Local Governments, beneficiary institutions and the Project Managers, for their support. As we hand over the project to you today, we implore you to ensure its sustainable use to impact on the people positively. The sustainability barometer shall be seen during our Impact Assessment Exercise, when we will come back to check how this project has helped and improved the impact of the hospital and lives of the benefitting community,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Bala M. Wunti, General Group Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS, Bunmi Lawson, Group Generel Manager, said the completion and commissioning of the project in 2021 was designed to mitigate the hardship faced by the locals, especially women and children in obtaining clean and portable water.
“In NNPC, our vision for social intervention is to continue to operate in an ethical and sustainable manner and deal with the environment and social impacts occasioned by our activities. We pride ourselves in our slogan.
“We touch your lives in many positive ways, hence the approval for the deployment of various CSR projects by our operators across the country for maximum impact. NNPC, along with its partners, have implemented various projects in the areas of education (building and equipping of schools/ classrooms, laboratories, donation of books, scholarships, Quiz competitions, etc.), skills acquisition and economic empowerment, healthcare, solar power and other infrastructural intervention projects,” Lawson said.
She stated that the projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in health care, quality education, water, and women and youth empowerment in line with the relevant Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.
“NNPC and its Partners are socially responsible organisations committed to improving the livelihood of the citizens of our great country, Nigeria.
“NNPC will continue to consistently champion the implementation of Sustainable Community Development projects that will positively impact the lives of the citizens of this country. We are very proud and elated to be commissioning yet another laudable and essential project. We know that this facility will help provide succor to the people for the purpose it is intended,” she added.
On behalf of the partners, Luc Vanson, General Manager, Prime 130, said the company was proud to be part of such laudable initiative, especially because clean water is an essential commodity.
“On behalf of the partners, we are proud to identify with the project as we want to make sure that Nigerians have access to quality education, clean water, and international standard healthcare system,” he said.
While enjoining the community to maintain the project, he said the locals have been trained on how to handle the plant for production of clean water.
Project Manager, Enyidede, enjoined the community to maintain the project by providing adequate security around the area.
Hon. Innocent Inya Eluu, Coordinator, Afikpo North East Development Centre, expressed gratitude on behalf of the govt and promised to do their part to help in maintenance of the project.
The principal, Ohabike Girls Secondary School, Mrs Mbe Elizabeth, while expressing her gratitude, said the project will provide much needed portable water to the students and neighbouring communities from across the boundary in Cross River State.
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