Niger Delta
206 Edo, Delta Teachers To Learn STEM By Application
Two hundred teachers and six Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE) in Edo and Delta states are undergoing comprehensive training to overhaul their pedagogical skills
The training, which began with a three-day workshop penultimate week in Benin City, will last three months and be followed by the establishment of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) clubs in the schools of the teachers.
An initiative of SEPLAT Energy Plc, an indigenous energy company, in collaboration with Joint Venture partner, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the Seplat JV Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) was developed to address gaps that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has identified in public and private school teachers teaching at the basic education level.
Speaking of the programme in Benin, the Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, SEPLAT, Dr Chioma Nwachukwu, said the teachers would learn how to apply 21st century skills, lesson notes preparations, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and how to use the Seplat STEM App.
Nwachukwu, who was represented by Seplat’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Mrs. Esther Icha, said the training was robust because education had gone beyond the teacher giving all the concept in class.
She said: “They are now going to apply learning and demonstration, and that is why the STEM training is very critical in nation building.
“Teachers will be trained on modern learning techniques, critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and the lesson notes,” she said.
Nwachukwu added that the training was expected to end after three months with an award of certificates to successful teachers next February.
She said Seplat expects teachers who have gone through the training to set up a STEM club in their various schools – with the hope of inspiring puils to come up with innovative solutions to contemporary problems.
“The STEM clubs will usher in an exhibition where the use of STEM to proffer solution to world problems will be showcased”, she said.
Officials of the Edo State Ministry of Education, Edo State Ministry of Science and Technology and Delta State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education present at the training said they were happy to collaborate with SEPLAT on the project.
Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Education, Stellamaris Imasuen, said the initiative aligned with the Edo government’s vision for education.
Imasuen, who was represented by the Executive Director, Science Vocational and Technical Education, Odegua Kushe, said the state was already seeing the impact of the training on the first batch of teachers trained last year under the project.
“The impact of the training, which Seplat started last year, is evident in the increase in the number of students participating in science and technology competitions at both local and international levels,” she said.
On her part, the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Rose Ezewu, praised the company for partnering with government to equip teachers with modern techniques for improved teaching and learning.
Ezewu, represented by the Director of School Services, Ufuoma Oduma, said the training had addressed a gap created by non-adaptation of modern technology in the teaching process.
Also speaking, Managing Director, NPDC, Alli Zahra, represented by Bassey Etim Bassey, said the training was necessary because of the critical role that teachers play in nation-building.
Some of the participants said the training would give opportunity to change how they teach.
EJoma Emiliana, a CIE from Oshimili South LGA, Delta State said the programme had enhanced her knowledge as a supervisor.
“This programme has increased and enhanced my knowledge. Thanks to Seplat for coming to better my ideas in different ways,” she said.
Another participant, Godfrey Edobholo, a teacher from the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Uromi, Edo State, said he appreciated the empowerment programme which he described as awesome.
He said: “We have seen how our minds have been refined because a mind refined is a life transformed. We have seen how important it is because as a teacher, you are a leader.
“We have seen the bridge and the link between a teacher and a leader because leadership itself is programming to securing the present which is the now and also capturing the future. So generally, the Seplat empowerment programme is for us to secure the future of our children which is our students and also capture the future because if you trained a child, you have educated a nation.”
The Tide learnt that selection of teachers for this year’s training was stiff – with 874 teachers in Edo and Delta states taking an online test from which the 206 participants were selected. The beneficiaries were drawn from 28 schools each from both states – with a ratio of five teachers for each public school, and two from each private school.
Recall that for the maiden edition of the STEP initiative STEP initiative last year, 389 teachers from Edo and Delta states took the online qualification test on September 16, 2020.
On November 23, 2020, 143 participants comprising 100 secondary school teachers and 43 CIEs began with an initial five-day physical training, followed by a virtual training using an online platform designed specifically for the programme.
Niger Delta
PIA: Bayelsa Engages Oil Firms, Dev Trusts On Transparency …Set To Issue New Operation Guidelines
The Bayelsa State Government has charged oil companies and host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) to be transparent and accountable in the implementation of policies and projects in oil bearing communities as spelt out in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Deputy Governor of the State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this recently while presiding over a meeting between representatives of Egbema-Angalabiri, Agbidiama Communities and Renaissance Africa Energy Company, formerly SPDC, at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
He expressed concern over the incessant cases of intra-community conflicts and threats to shut down the operations of oil companies.
Ewhrudjakpo identified lack of transparency in the award of contracts, mismanagement of funds and employment opportunities in most communities.
To checkmate this, he said the state government has directed that henceforth all oil companies operating in the State should disclose the full content of the Free to Operate (FTO) agreements signed with the leadership of any community or its representatives to the entire community.
According to the Deputy Governor, government has equally directed the oil firms to make available copies of the FTOs to the State Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks of signing such documents to enable it keep track of the firms’ engagements with their host communities.
Commenting on the Egbema-Angalabiri internal conflict, he cautioned the youths against shutting down the operations of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, describing the problem in the community as self-inflicted.
He also advised the community to open and operate a central community account with three officials, including the Amananawei, Community Development Committee Chairman and the women leader, as signatories to check embezzlement of community funds.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who warned the communities against subletting contracts, especially when they have the local capacity and competency to handle such jobs, also directed the PIA management and host communities development trust boards to render periodic accounts to their various communities.
“Every FTO signed, a copy of it should be deposited with the Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks. Once an FTO is signed, those who signed it must disclose the full content of the FTO to the entire community. All jobs, unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled, must be announced to the community and the community takes the decision as to who should be employed.
“All companies operating must disclose fully the prevailing contract sum for any contract that is being awarded, and no contract should be subsidized, except at the request of the community.
“PIA members must report periodically, preferably monthly, to their communities. You must give account of what is happening to your communities.
“Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) shall not award contracts without reference or recourse to the communities.
“These are some of the operational guidelines we have decided to take to the Governor for approval. Thereafter, a circular will be issued by the Ministry of Mineral Resources and all oil companies will comply.
“We are doing this to complement the PIA, and most importantly, to checkmate the recurring cases of internal conflicts in almost all the oil bearing communities across our state. We want to ensure peace by all lawful means”, he said.
Speaking earlier, a stakeholder of Egbema-Angalabiri Community, Hon Selekebina Saboh, expressed total support for the proposed operational guidelines of the state government.
While thanking government for its effort towards restoring peace in the community and industrial harmony for companies operating in the area, Hon Saboh said the issue of embezzling community funds would have been avoided if the community had supported him in kicking against the use of the personal account of successive CDC chairmen.
While giving account of his stewardship, the immediate past CDC Chairman of Egbema-Angalabiri, Mr. Timadi Sambo, who was alleged to have mismanaged about N40 million belonging to the community, described the allegation as spurious and unfounded.
The meeting was attended by the paramount rulers, CDC chairmen and women and youth leaders of Egbema-Angalabiri and Agbidiama communities, as well as representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, and top government functionaries.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
As Delta State marks the second anniversary of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, renowned administrator and education strategist, Mr. Clement Siakpere, has commended the Governor for what he described as remarkable strides in infrastructure and educational development across the state.
Siakpere, who is Executive Assistant to the Governor on Education Monitoring, in a statement, noted that Governor Oborevwori has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the delivery of good governance through his administration’s MORE Agenda, which prioritises meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms, and enhanced peace and security.
“Two years into his administration, Governor Oborevwori has proven his critics wrong. From the commissioning of key road projects to the rehabilitation, the construction of schools and the recruitment of qualified teachers, the Governor has shown great leadership with a human face”, Siakpere said.
The former Registrar of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, commended Governor Oborevwori on the multiple road projects and medical equipment inaugurated in Warri, such as the construction and dualisation of major roads in urban and rural communities, as well as the upgrade of educational facilities across the three senatorial districts.
According to him, these projects are not only improving the quality of life for residents, but also laying the foundation for long-term socio-economic growth.
Siakpere also praised the administration’s investments in technical education and youth empowerment, describing the recently completed Omadino Technical College, Omadino, in Warri South Local Government Area, as “bold steps toward reducing unemployment and improving skill acquisition among the younger population.”
He urged Deltans to continue supporting the Oborevwori administration, adding that sustainable development requires collective effort and consistent leadership.
“Governor Oborevwori’s performance within just two years offers a glimpse into what is possible with purposeful governance. If this pace is sustained, Delta State will certainly witness a new era of prosperity and inclusion”, he said.
Governor Oborevwori, who took office on May 29, 2023, has consistently emphasised his resolve to build on the achievements of past administrations while charting a new course for inclusive development in the State.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party/Acting Zonal Scribe, South-South of the party, Barrister George Turnah, has commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Turnah, who described the President as visionary, said Ogbuku’s appointment has again shown his love for the Niger Delta region, noting that it has brought tremendous developmental programmes and projects to the oil rich region.
He described the current management team of the agency as an assemblage of the most effective and visionary leadership team from the inception of the commission.
Making the commendation when he visited Ogbuku at his residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the week, he specifically expressed satisfaction with the developmental projects carried out by the agency in Bayelsa State.
“The PDP under my leadership and Bayelsans in general are particularly proud of your initiatives, projects and achievements, MD.
“Thank you for lighting up the Niger Delta with the programme, ‘Operation Light Up the Niger Delta’ with solar-powered lights.
“Thank you for the completion of the 132/33KVA power sub-station in Ondo State, the completion and commissioning of the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, and other numerous projects and programmes ongoing under your leadership of the NDDC across the Niger Delta”, Turnah said.
The party chieftain, who also praised Ogbuku for successfully kick-starting the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, said another milestone achievement by the NDDC boss was the successful hosting of the Niger Delta Summit.
“President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is visible, the impact is seen in all the Niger Delta States through several fora, particularly with Ogbuku at the helm of affairs in the NDDC”, the PDP chairman added.
In his remarks, the NDDC, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer said he was delighted over Turnah’s visit, calling for greater collaboration among political leaders of the region, noting also that the region’s political and economic interests would be better protected if leaders worked together not minding their political leanings and party affiliations.
“Turnah, my brother and friend, I want to thank you for the visit. I must be honest to say that this visit has again underscored my consistent call for synergy amongst political leaders in the Niger Delta region irrespective of party differences and ideological leanings.
“With collaboration and partnership the Niger Delta region will be better for it”, Ogbuku said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa