Photo caption: Chief Victor Uzamere, the Obadolaye of Benin Kingdom (third right), cutting the tape to commission the electricity supply project to Oben Cottage Hospital in Oben Edo State by the Seplat Energy/NPDC Joint Venture. He was joined by His Royal Highness, Odoligie Frederick Ogiemwonyi, the Enogie of Oben (second right); Folorunsho Afolabi, Managing Director, Seplat West Limited and representative of the Seplat Energy Plc MD/CEO (second left); Mrs Obasuyi Amen, Chief Accountant, Edo State Oil & Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC), who represented the Chairman EDSOGPADEC; and Emmanuel Otokhine, Base Manager, Western Assets, Seplat Energy Plc, at the occasion recently.
Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian and London stock exchanges, Sunday announced the commissioning of a project for power supply to Oben Cottage Hospital in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, from its gas facility in the community.
The move expected to offer a 24-hour power supply to the hospital for the long-term, as part of its continuous community development programmes and in line with a mandate to continue to do more for its host communities, it said in a statement, will ensure continuous value creation to the people.
Commissioning the project, Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy, said the company has worked assiduously to put this reliable option in place, thereby ensuring “a more sustainable constant power supply… to the hospital from our facility here in Oben.”
Brown, who was represented by Folorunsho Afolabi, Managing Director, Seplat West Limited, therefore expressed happiness at the epoch-making ceremony, adding specifically that “the project is designed to provide “the cottage hospital uninterrupted power supply directly from our Oben new Field Logistics Base and thus enable the hospital to provide adequate health care services to Oben Field Communities of Oben, Iguelaba, Ikobi and Obozogbe N’Ugu and its environs.”
The Seplat CEO, who lauded the people of Oben for their cooperation and partnership over the years, stressed that “this represents another milestone with regards to our Company’s unwavering commitment to adding positive value to the lives of inhabitants of our host communities.”
Brown harped on the company’s resolve to adding value to the community, as it has commenced the renovation of the doctor’s quarters of the Oben Cottage hospital, of which it had, in the past, renovated the cottage hospital itself.
The Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, Dr Chioma Nwachuku, in her message, alluded to Seplat Energy’s drive for continuity and sustainability, noting that with the Company’s corporate philosophy of adding value to the host communities where it operates.
In her words, “we are determined as a responsive and responsible organization to contribute to the development of our host communities.
“We are optimistic that the supply of gas generated power from our new Oben Field Logistics Base through a direct dedicated power line to the hospital will create immeasurable values to our community members even as we wish all excellent health always.”
Seplat, the statement continued, had earlier ensured reconnection of the Hospital to the national grid in addition to providing power generating sets to the hospital, in addition to overhauling the generating sets at the hospital as back-up to the power supply and providing diesel regularly.
The event was also attended by Seplat Joint Venture (JV) partners (Nigerian Petroleum Development Company), government dignitaries and His Royal Highness, Odoligie Frederick Ogiemwonyi, The Enogie of Oben; and community leaders, as well as the Western Asset Base Manager, Emmanuel Otokhine.
The Chairman/Managing Director, Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) – Pastor Kennedy Osifo, represented by the Commission’s Chief Accountant, Mrs Obasuyi Amen, expressed deep appreciation to Seplat Energy for the project and for all the sustainable community development programmes in the host communities where the company operates.
Speaking on behalf of Oben Field Communities Johnbull Omokaro, the Secretary commended the NPDC/Seplat Energy JV for actualizing the project and restoring the people’s hope.
The project for power supply to Oben Cottage Hospital from its Oben gas facility, the company added in the statement, is in sync with Seplat’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy, which is premised on improving the wellbeing of inhabitants host communities of operation. Seplat has also continued to provide health improvement programmes the “Eye Can See programme” targeted at patients with visual impairment offering surgery for cataract related visual impairment; the Safe Motherhood (a health programme for pregnant women and nursing mothers), amongst others.
