By Mellody Fidelis
Seplat Energy says it has empowered 271 beneficiaries comprising 260 teachers and 11 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) in Edo and Delta states with the requisite knowledge and skill sets under its 2022/2023 edition training programme.
The Seplat Teachers’ Empowerment Programme (STEP), is to enable the beneficiaries to excel in teaching their students Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM), through the model learning program initiated in 2020.
A statement from the company this year’s STEP initiative was held on April 14, and accompanied with an Education Roundtable and the STEP Award Ceremony, in which the beneficiaries were announced.
The energy company said the STEP initiative builds teachers’ competencies to teach the STEAM model of learning to secondary school students, to promote their creative thinking abilities, and allows higher student engagement in the focal subjects.
It added that the program provides teachers access to STEAM learning through workshops and a customised e-platform with a collection of resources that teachers can access on a free device provided by Seplat.
In her opening remark, the Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy Plc, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, was quoted as saying that secondary school teachers in public and private schools in the company’s host states were open to benefit from the laudable programme.
According to her, the STEP programme has been enormously impactful in touching over 25,000 students within the third year of deploying the programme. It has recorded a total of 634 beneficiaries, which comprise 574 teachers and 60 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs).
She continued: said: “We strongly believe that education is the bedrock for national development and our STEP deployment aims to enhance teachers’ competencies and empower them with the knowledge and skills to implement STEAM education, amongst other benefits.
“Seplat Energy is committed to providing this programme annually because of its relevance and positive multiplier effects on boosting quality education.”
We strongly believe that education is the bedrock for national development and our STEP deployment aims to enhance teachers’ competencies and empower them with the knowledge and skills to implement STEAM education, amongst other benefits.
SDG 4 investment
Over the years, Seplat Energy has invested significantly in other educational Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes such as the PEARLS quiz competition to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 4, which promotes education for all.
In his address, the Director, New Energy, Seplat Energy, Effiong Okon, who commended the Edo and Delta states governments for providing a conducive business environment for the company, said Seplat’s new energy focus ties strongly to “the sustainability programmes in our host states and Nigeria at large.”
Okon added: “Seplat Energy craves for innovation and excellence as it continues to empower teachers and CIEs, and remains committed to celebrating the success stories of the benefiting teachers as well as the students that are being impacted.”
To commemorate the certificate presentation ceremony, Seplat Energy hosted a chat session to further deliberate on the role of technology for quality education, to align with the theme of the Education Roundtable: “Transforming the Education Workforce.”
Panel discussion
Aside from Dr. Nwachuku, other panelists comprised Yinka Akibu, M&E Specialist, UNDP Spotlight Initiative; Kemi Sokenu-Morris, Chairman of the Executive Council, Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria (SPIN); Audrey Odogu, Philanthropies Lead, Microsoft; and Birghitta Eno Okodugha, Permanent Secretary, Information Communications Technology Agency, Edo State.
The session was moderated by Dr. Mories Atoki, Chief Executive Officer, African Business Coalition for Health.
Delivering the keynote, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, noted that “technology remains critical to transforming the education workforce and the 21st Century interaction between teachers and students could be massively impacted and boosted leveraging the right technologies and methods.”
She called for project and competency-based learning approaches in schools, adding that: “Our teachers must become technologically-savvy at this time. Data gathering has become very key now and technology provides the right platforms. It is a new era and we are in a new world. Thanks to Seplat Energy and its partners for leading this journey.”
The Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Augustine Oghoro, commended Seplat for its people-focus initiatives, saying they were timely given the need for teachers and students to be equipped with relevant skills to become global champions.
