A total of 143 beneficiaries comprising 100 secondary school teachers and 43 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE) in Edo and Delta states benefited from the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
Certificates were awarded to the beneficiaries at a ceremony, on Friday, March 19, 2021, upon the conclusion of a three-month intensive training programme that equips teachers with tools to teach STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics).
The programme, Seplat said in a statement, is an initiative created by the leading indigenous energy company, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc and its partners, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), to improve the country’s standard of education, particularly for host States.
Seplat recalled that it has over the years made significant impacts with critical initiatives focused on providing quality education for states of our operations and the country.
The company added that it introduced STEP, a customized training programme for secondary school teachers, to consolidate its achievements on Sustainability Development Goal 4 for inclusive and equitable quality education.
In November 2020, the 143 awardees began their training with an initial five-day residential retreat, after which the training continued via the E-Learning platform developed for the programme.
As part of the event on Friday, Seplat hosted an Education Round Table with the theme “Provision of Quality Education: A National Priority,” to further explore the right policy formulation for quality education.
The event also offered educational experts and professionals, who were part of the panel, a highly engaging session moderated by Professor Pat Utomi, with former Edo State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, as keynote speaker.
The panellists included the Director, External Affairs and Communications, Seplat, Dr Chioma Nwachukwu; Professor of Guidance and Counselling, Ambrose Alli University, Oyaziwo Aluede; Director, Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement, University of Abuja, Prof. Ocholi Ekundayo Fehintola; Professor of Educational Management, University of Ibadan, Benedict Emunemu; and the Principal Managing Partner, Teach Smart Eduservices, Sola Okunkpolor.
Testimonies of recipients of the maiden STEP, the statement added, highlighted the numerous benefits they gained from the programme, including enhancing their creative thinking, allowing for higher student engagement, and offering a well-rounded education.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Stella-Marris Imasuen, and other government officials graced the event, in addition to traditional chiefs, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
Roger Brown, the Chief Executive Officer, Seplat, represented by Dr. Nwachuku, noted that Seplat has over the years “invested significantly in various educational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 4, which speaks to education for all.”
Also speaking in her personal capacity, Nwachuku said “Seplat is playing an invaluable role in enhancing the quality of education with the many educational programmes offered through the Company’s CSR initiatives. With the STEP programme, the Company now has a full boutique of programmes impacting the entire education value chain. Seplat educational programmes now cover improving school infrastructure, enhancing students’ academic performance, and building the skills and competencies of teachers, amongst others.
“Teachers are the critical success factor for the implementation of STEAM model; thus Seplat has embarked on empowering teachers with the STEAM knowledge and skillsets to enable them to deliver”, she added.
Prof. Osarenren, in her keynote said what Seplat has done cannot be quantified as it will continue to drive critical thinking and generate problem-solving skills. She, therefore, urged the recipients of the programme to utilize the acquired knowledge to bear positive impacts on their students whilst remaining change agents, mentors and character builders.
Caption: From left, Dr. Chioma Nwachukwu, Director, External Affairs and Communications, SEPLAT; Prof. Pat Utomi, Moderator of Seplat Education Roundtable and Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, Keynote Speaker at the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) Awards Ceremony 2021 at the STEP Certificate Award Ceremony/Seplat Education Roundtable held in Benin City, on Friday, March 19, 2021.
