Business
Mobil Pumps N160bn Into NDDC In 16 Years

Director, Finance and Accounts, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Mr Musa Baburia, Director General, Mrs Dayo Keshi and Director, Extension Services, Mr Hilary Ogbechie, at a news conference on NCAC’s 40th Anniversary in Abuja, yesterday.
Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, says it has contributed N160 billion to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since its inception in 2001.
The MPN Manager, Media and Communications, Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, disclosed this in Uyo on Wednesday at a two-day capacity building workshop for newsmen in Akwa Ibom.
The workshop, which was sponsored by Mobil, has the theme: “Professionalism, media ethics and responsibility in sustaining democracy and deepening oil and gas operations reportage.”
Udeagha said that the company had contributed over N16 billion to infrastructure development in Akwa Ibom in the last three years.
He said that as a major player in the oil and gas sector, the company had sponsored annual athletics championships and science quiz for secondary schools in Akwa Ibom.
The manager said that the company also offered scholarships to undergraduate and post graduate students as well as sponsorship of Graduate Assistance Programme (GAP) for unemployed graduates.
Other programmes sponsored by the company included refresher training for primary and secondary school teachers and economic empowerment programme for women.
He announced that Mobil would assist the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in building its mini-club house.
Udeagha appealed to the media to remain professional, ethical and socially responsible in the reportage of oil and gas business, given the global crash in oil price.
The chairman of the occasion, Prof. Udoudo Ekanemesang, said media practitioners were very powerful people that could make or mar the world.
Ekanemesang, who is the Vice Chancellor of Obong University, the first private university licensed in Akwa Ibom, urged the media to uphold the responsibility to educate the public seriously.
“The media is the guardian of public interest. The media invariably is expected to hold elected officials and political office holders accountable for their actions or in-actions.
“The press has another social responsibility of promoting human rights; everyone’s human rights, especially during periods of political uncertainty,” Ekanemesang said.
He advised the media practitioners to adhere strictly to the ethics of the profession by being fair, truthful, factual, and of high integrity in the reportage of events.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Uko, urged journalists in the state to shun sensational reportage and outright falsehood.
Uko said that the house would always support ethical media practice in the state.
He called on the state council of NUJ to discipline erring journalists, especially those working for private local tabloids in the state.
The state Chairman, NUJ, Mr Patrick Albert, thanked ExxonMobil for sponsoring the workshop, describing the company as a responsible organisation.
He said that the council was delighted to have the workshop for its members to inculcate in them the need for ethical practice.
Albert promised that the union would disown any journalist that flouted the professional code of ethics.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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