TEPNG trains over 1000 Rivers, Abia indigenes on various entrepreneurship skills
Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
About 1014 youths and women from host communities of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, in Abia and Rivers States have benefited from various skill acquisition organised by the company.
The company has not only trained the beneficiaries but also provided them with starter packs to enable them improve in their individual competencies and contribute to the development of their individual communities.
Speaking on Monday in Port Harcourt, at the graduation ceremony of the Batch 14 (2017) and Batch 15 (2018) skill acquisition trainees, Deputy Managing Director of Total, Mr. Guillaume Dulout, stated that the training was sponsored by NNPC/TEPNG Joint Venture.
Represented by Mr. Okechukwu Obare, the DMD of TEPNG disclosed that the training for each batch lasted for about 12 months, stressing that the “skill training programme is designed to support the human capital development of youth and women of our Target host communities”.
He stated that the training is consonance with Corporate Social Responsibility of Total to positively touch lives in standard with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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Dulout said: “It is a unique opportunity for these young men and women to acquire various entrepreneurship skills which should enable them improve their individual competencies in particular and contribute meaningfully to the overall well-being of their communities and the states, in general.
“The training programme is also in consonance with the continued and sustainable corporate social responsibility policy thrust of the Total Group to touch lives in a positive and sustainable manner and in tandem with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to; reduce poverty and hunger, improve health and well-being as well as provide decent jobs for economic growth, encourage participation of women in the building of sustainable cities, communities and engender partnership with governments private sector and the civil society”.
Congratulating the trainees for the hard work and personal sacrifice they made over the past months to arrive at the graduation ceremony, Mr. Dulout advised “It is important for the skills graduates to know that learning is continuous. For you to be skilled in your trade, you must continue seeking ways to hone the skills that you have acquired. You will also need to exercise a great deal of humility to continue learning at the feet of those who have mastered your respective trades”.
Also speaking at the event, Elemchukwu Onotu, Director of Empowerment at the Rivers State Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, thanked Total and its implementing partner for packaging the skill acquisition programme.
Mr. Elemchukwu who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said “this is very good and encouraging programme. I believe if other companies could do same, there will be peace in the state and country at large”.
He noted that the Rivers State government have embarked on similar empowerment programmes. He advised the trainees to positively utilise the opportunity for their personal development and their communities.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke with The Nigerian Xpress commended Total for the free gesture.
Mrs. Gowon Vivian, a native of Ahoada town, said with the knowledge acquired in catering, she is prepared to back to her community and impact development, especially training the youths and women who are eager to impact positively to the development of their communities.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of starter packs to the trainees.
