The NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has onboarded 650 teachers and Chief Inspectors of Education in Edo and Delta States as part of its 2025 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The second phase of the workshop ended in Asaba, Delta on Tuesday, while the first phase took place in Benin, Edo State, from July 28 to 29.
At the first leg of the workshop held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, urged the participants to take the training seriously and outlined the strategic significance of both phases of the training.
Afe, who presented a paper on ‘Communication for Change, Teachers as Agents of Change’, shared a strategic communication code, “the 7-c’s of communication”, which includes clarity, conciseness, consideration, completeness, courtesy, concreteness, and correctness.
She said, “The code is vital. A teacher is a professional who facilitates learning, guiding students to acquire knowledge, develop competencies, and grow intellectually and emotionally.”
“I urge the participants to embrace their roles as agents of change, grab the opportunity with both hands and improve themselves continuously, both for personal benefits, for the good of the students and the society.”
On his part, the representative of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, commended the Seplat JV for the initiative and stimulated the participants, whom he described as privileged, as “these are the kinds of lecture packages people go to Dubai and pay dollars for”.
He urged them to keep faith with the programme to the finish line because “In Edo State, we want to make sure that our teachers are packed with excellence, because the quality of the teachers impacts the quality of the students”.
Okpebholo charged the participants to not just teach, but strive to be good role models to stem the wave of moral decadence and end the poverty cycle ravaging the society.
In the same vein, Director, Corporate Services, Seplat Energy Plc, Steve Ojeh, charged the participants to propel their careers from within with determination, increased curiosity, willingness to learn and embrace new ideas so as to impact strongly on society.
Ojeh, who presented a paper on ‘Leadership and Self Development’, urged the participants to be passionate, intentional and ambitious in their career pursuits.
At the Asaba session, the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Rose Ezewu, who was represented by the Director, Schools, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Ighavbota Winifred, applauded the Seplat JV for the initiative.
Highlighting the state’s continued support for the initiative, Ezewo charged the participants to take the training seriously because it would have a long-term impact on, not just academic fortunes, but on the general well-being of the society.
According to Ezewo, many ills befalling the Nigerian society can be traced to the quality of education given to the current generation.
“We are very pleased to welcome the Seplat JV’s STEP initiative because we are looking at the long-term benefits for Delta State and Nigeria in general. We encourage the participants to be serious and make the most of the opportunity,” she added.
The 650 participants were drawn from over 4,666 applicants who took part in an online selection process.
Source: Punchng
