All Posts in "Day: November 28, 2023"

Tinubu Makes New Appointment into NNPC Board

Mohammed Shosanya

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made new appointments into the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) which will take effect from December 1st, 2023.

The new appointees includes (1) Chief Pius Akinyelure — Non-Executive Board Chairman

(2) Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari — Group Chief Executive Officer

(3) Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya — Chief Financial Officer

(4) Mr. Ledum Mitee — Non-Executive Director

(5) Mr. Musa Tumsa — Non-Executive Director

(6) Mr. Ghali Muhammad — Non-Executive Director

(7) Prof. Mustapha Aliyu — Non-Executive Director

(8) Mr. David Ogbodo — Non-Executive Director

(9) Ms. Eunice Thomas — Non-Executive Director

He also approved the appointment of two Permanent Secretaries:

(10) Mr. Okokon Ekanem Udo — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance

(11) Amb. Gabriel Aduda — Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources

A statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale on Monday, noted that the appointment was in compliance with Section 59 (2) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The President said he anticipates the fullest measure of compliance with the performance-driven and results-oriented mandate of his Renewed Hope administration in the implementation of energy policy that will monetize all available oil and gas resources of today while paving the way for the total exploitation of new and cleaner energy sources of tomorrow by this distinguished team.

admin by — November 28, 2023 in News 0
Nigeria’s Basic School Enrolment Hits 45m-UBEC Boss

Mohammed Shosanya

The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC has disclosed that students enrolment at the basic school level across Nigeria is on the threshold of over 45 million pupils.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Boboyyi, disclosed this at a one-day meeting on Promoting Partnership with the Organised Private Sector, in Abuja.

He said despite allocating over N100 billion to education every year, resources from the federal government alone can no longer run the system.

According to him, even though the federal government is spending money on education, the sector requires more resources to deliver quality education.

He implored the private sector to appreciate the importance of providing education for children at an early age to contribute to the development of the country.

“Resources alone from the federal government cannot run the system. Nigeria has over 45 million children in basic education subsector and with this number, we require the necessary classrooms.

“A state may get a maximum of maybe N3 billion in the best times, but N3 billion cannot take care of these. It needs instructional materials, you need a lot of other things,” he said.

Stating that education is the foundation of the collective existence of Nigerians, Boboyyi noted that if the country neglects education, there would be dire consequences.

Speaking on the objective of the meeting, he said the commission is bringing together key stakeholders to in order to have a functional relationship with the private sector, in which the sector understands its activities and challenges in the basic education subsector.

He also lamented that there is 29 per cent reduction in the number of teachers in Nigeria’s basic school system following the COVID-19 pandemic that plagued the country recently.

He noted that part of the interface with the organised private sector is to work out a programme that can be beneficial to the development of basic education in Nigeria, in the areas of quality, expanding access and finding equity for the physically challenged.

He also implored stakeholders to invest in the smart school initiative to build the technological capacity of the young population.

The Head Oando Foundation, Mrs. Adegoke Adekanla, commended UBEC for its commitment towards advancing basic education in the country.

Adekanla said the commitment of Oando Foundation also aligns with the broader initiative to strengthen the Universal Basic Education, UBE, programme through collaborative partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Represented by an official of the foundation, Mr. Ede Okechukwu, she stressed that “Basic education forms the foundation upon which all other forms of learning and development rest. It is the fundamental right of every child and the cornerstone of a prosperous and equitable society. Access to quality basic education is not just a goal; it is a moral imperative that shapes the future of nations.

“The involvement of the private sector, as emphasized by UBEC, is instrumental in enhancing the pool of resources for UBE implementation. This collaboration is not only an acknowledgment of the unique strengths and capabilities that non-state actors bring to the table but also a testament to the recognition that effective partnerships are indispensable for achieving better results in development initiatives, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17.

“Most recently through our lead role in the Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) Education Cluster. We are eager to actively contribute to the shared goal of ensuring quality basic education for every child in Nigeria.”

admin by — November 28, 2023 in Education 0
Seplat Energy Wins SISA’s CSR Award

Mohammed Shosanya

Seplat Energy Plc, has won the Social Impact & Sustainability Awards (SISA)’s CSR Award for Education Empowerment organized by CSR Reporters.

CSR Reporters is Africa’s premier all-Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability publication; and the SASA, which is now in its fourth year, recognises initiatives of companies in promoting sustainable economies in Nigeria and in serving the needy public.

At the ceremony, Dr. Eustace Onuegbu, Member of Trustees, Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria and President, International Network for Corporate Social Responsibility, said the awards are targeted at recognising, honouring and celebrating the outstanding efforts of organisations and individuals that have made a transformative impact on Nigerian society in the year under review.

The award recognises the organisations that have integrated globally recognised and measurable sustainability standards including ISO 37101 Management Standards on Sustainable Development in Communities (MSSDC), ISO 26000 Social Responsibility, ISO 14001 Environmental Management, ISO 9001 Quality Management, ISO 20400 Sustainable Supply Chain Management, ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Standards, among others.

It also recognises organisations that have followed best reporting standards such as GRI and IIRC Standards. Other categories include specific initiatives in support of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and individual philanthropic efforts for the year under review.

The organisers of the awards commended Seplat Energy’s commitment to educational advancement and effective stakeholder engagement.

They also lauded the company’s educational CSR initiatives like the Seplat Pearl’s Quiz, National Undergraduate Scholarship, SEPLAT Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP), and Seplat Innovators programme.

Seplat Pearl’s Quiz started in 2012 for its host States and since then 57,875 teachers and students have been impacted through a total of 11,575 participating schools. Scholarships worth N8.1million have been awarded to winning secondary school students.

The company has also contributed directly to improving the infrastructure of secondary schools by awarding prize money worth N101 million to winning secondary schools.

Seplat National Undergraduate Scholarship started in 2014 for host communities, states, and the nation. Since then, the company has provided scholarships to 780 Federal and State University undergraduate students of which 34 per cent are from our host communities.

SEPLAT Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) started in 2020 for host States and since then it has provided 905 teachers and 87 Chief Inspectors of Education with digital teaching skills, leadership training, and income diversification; and supported the learning of over 10,000 students with new teaching skills.

The Seplat Innovators Programme is creating STEAM Laboratories which are collaborative spaces where the study of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics can be integrated through hands-on experiences in a pure laboratory or combined classroom-laboratory setting.

The Director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe, represented by the CSR Manager, Esther Icha, commended the award organisers for the recognition whilst stressing the company’s commitment to global best practice in all programmes targeted at social development of the Nigerian people, especially its host communities.

According to her, Seplat Energy’s educational CSR initiatives are implemented in line with the company’s seven Principles of Corporate Strategy, which are: Accountability, Transparency, Ethical behaviour, Respect for stakeholders’ interests, Respect for the rule of law, Respect for international norms of behaviour, and Respect for human rights.

admin by — November 28, 2023 in Next Level 0
WEOG Seeks Increased Investment In Oil, Gas Sector

Mohammed Shosanya

The International Forum for Women in Energy, Oil and Gas (WEOG)has implored the federal government to open up the nation’s oil and gas sector for more investors to come in.

The group also criticized the incessant gas flaring in the Niger Delta region and enjoined the government to put in place policy, monitoring and evaluation that will put a halt to the flaring of gas reserves in Nigeria and convert such gas to electric power.

The Director of the International Forum for Women in Energy, Oil and Gas, Delta State Chapter, Mrs Ogochuku Okekpolo, stated these during the induction of pioneer members of the forum in the State, held at Government House Annex, Warri last week.

She said: “Women professionals are ready to take leadership roles in these respects.We have many women who are professionals. The problem is that they don’t want to be visible. Our tradition, our culture wants a woman to be behind, to hide. But in this drive, we have met many women professors in oil and gas. This forum gives us a platform where we can draw out these raw golds”, she stated.

She appealed to the government as a matter of urgency to stop gas flaring, adding that the country has a lot of gas reserves presently being flared which, according to her, “could have otherwise been converted to usable energy that we can use to power things”.

She said: “I think gas flaring not only degenerates our environment, it is like a wastage of a lot of resources. Oil and gas have a lot of by-products that can be useful in the development of our economy.

“I think we should leave the primary focus and grow in our oil and gas business. We are still at the periphery, just extracting and exporting. We should refine and build our industries around this so that our energy sector is transformational.

“There are many nations who don’t use gas to cook. The oil and gas energy sector drives the economy. The electricity we see, the turbines are powered by gas. So, if gas is expensive, then electricity is expensive to the welder, the saloon, fish seller on the street; they can’t preserve without light and that is energy driven by gas”

admin by — November 28, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
NCDMB To Host Practical Nigerian Content Forum Next Week

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)says it is set to host oil and gas industry experts  and policy makers at its Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNC), 2023.

According to a statement issued by the board,activities for the 12th edition of the annual programme scheduled for the Nigerian Content Tower headquarters of the NCDMB in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, will start on December 4,this year.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, and his Gas counterpart, Ekperikpo Ekpo would lead other big players in the oil and gas industry to participate in the event,the statement said.

The ministers, according to the statement,will deliver ministerial addresses and to show the direction of the Federal Government’s thinking concerning Nigerian Content and investment strategies.

The Forum is hosted by the NCDMB in partnership with DMG Events and the Bayelsa State Government.

This year’s edition will open with an invitational golf tourney and welcome dinner – the first of the three gala nights that would be sponsored by Coleman Wires and Cables, the Bayelsa State Government and the Nigeria LNG Ltd, to be closed on Thursday, December 7, 2023 with a visit by delegates to the facility of MG VOWGAS in Port Harcourt, River State.

The statement disclosed that some of the presentations that would be received at the PNC include the opening keynote address by the host of the event and Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, while the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, and Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPA), Farouk Ahmed, alongside other key industry figures would feature prominently in the four-day event.

Besides,the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kolo Kyari, is also expected to grace the PNC.

The statement also said,major international oil companies, members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) and service companies, would be actively participating in the four-day conference, with their chief executive officers functioning in one capacity or the other, principally as moderators of panel discussions or panellists or delivering papers on critical subjects relating to local content practice in the oil and gas industry.

The agency added:”For the 2023 edition, key subjects for the panel sessions centre around “Providing an Enabling Environment for Investment in the Energy Sector”,  “Opportunities in Decarbonisation and Domestic Gas Utilization”, “Deepening Nigerian Content in the Manufacturing Sector”, and “Financing a Thriving Midstream Sector for Socioeconomic Development”, and “Sustainable Framework for Human Capacity Development.” Presentations on R&D Success Stories are also expected.

“In addition to the expansive exhibition, the PNC Forum affords prospective investors and clients as well as fund managers an interactive platform with key Federal Government officials overseeing the oil and gas sector, key industry operators and service providers, and chief executives of the regulatory agencies.

“Among the industry players, a major activity is evaluation of their performances in local content practice, and consideration of appropriate adjustments aimed at better results.

“To be showcased are opportunities for collaboration and partnership between the public sector and private business interests and between the private sector and academia; also, emerging opportunities from divestments by IOCs and the decarbonisation drive in the industry.”

admin by — November 28, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0