Features
Unveiling NDPR’s New Trust Fund
In a significant move towards fostering community development and partnership, the Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited (NDPR) has successfully launched its MURALI Host Communities’ Development Trust Fund.
The fund aims to channel resources directly into projects that benefit the community, spanning areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and skill development.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the prestigious Landmark Hotel in Port Harcourt, on August 1, 2023, marked a pivotal moment for NDPR’s commitment to sustainable growth and community empowerment.
The event was witnessed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, royal fathers, community leaders and stakeholders, among others.
Speaking at the event, the Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engr. Charles Amadi, extended gratitude to NDPR for taking the initiative to establish the new committee.
His Royal Highness, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III of Ekpeye Land, Eze (Sir) Amb. Kelvin N. Anugwo (with mic)) addressing stakeholders at the inauguration ceremony of MURALI Host Communities’ Development Trust in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday. He was flanked by the CEO/Managing Director, NDPR, Mr Adegbite Falade (second right), Rivers State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Engr Charles Amadi (right) and another stakeholder (left).
He also urged the company to lead by example, by setting a high standard for corporate-community collaboration.
This sentiment resonated with the company’s mission, which is deeply rooted in responsible business practices and meaningful contributions to the regions it operates in.
The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of NDPR, Mr. Adegbite Falade, emphasized the company’s dedication to fostering positive relationships with its host communities.
He highlighted the MURALI Host Communities’ Development Trust Fund as a testament to NDPR’s commitment to equitable growth.
While assuring that the NDPR would fully comply with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to fund the Trust, Mr Falade requested a renewed commitments from the host communities to ensure an enabling environment for the company to operate.
“As a company, we will comply with the provisions of the PIA to fund the Trust. It is no longer a social contract between NDPR and the host communities. It is a legal obligation that we as an organisation intend to comply with in full. We, therefore, request a renewed commitment from the communities to ensure an enabling environment for the company to continue to operate”, he said.
The NDPR boss, however, urged the Board of Trustees to see themselves as caretaker with a duty and mandate to sustainably develop their respective communities, while also charging the host communities to hold the trustees accountable for the development of their areas.
“The Community must receive value for any money spent for its development. When the account is rendered, the value of the development in the communities must be commensurate with the figures in the books. This does not apply only to physical projects, but also to human capital development. The Trust should be able to raise people who are qualified to apply for and gain employment in any company in and outside Nigeria”, he said.
Stakeholders at the inauguration ceremony of NDPR’s MURALI Host Communities’ Development Trust in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
He added, “I want to call on members of the communities to hold the Trustees accountable. They are your sons, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, so you must ask them questions about how the Trust is being operated. You must demand to know who is executing projects in your community and raise the bar with respect to the quality of work being done as well as the value being received.
“If a project is not completed on time, find out the reason for the delay. If it is not meeting the expected/contracted standard, raise the alarm. If you notice anything untoward, speak out. Please be curious about your common wealth and make it your responsibility to protect it”.
Adding a scholarly touch to the event, His Royal Highness Eze Ekpeye Logbo III of Ekpeye Land, Eze (Sir) Amb. Kelvin N. Anugwo, PhD, delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts between corporations and local communities.
He underscored the need for sustainable practices that enhance the overall well-being of the region.
The ceremony was further enriched by the insights shared by the former chairman of NDPR Community Development Trust, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, whose speech resonated with the collective vision of progress and cooperation.
Chief Oyibo charged new members of the Board of Trustees of the Fund to live above board in the selection, approval, implementation and execution of projects in various host communities so that the individual host communities would benefit from the exploration of the God-given natural resources deposited in their domains.
NDPR incorporated its Host Community Development Trust in 2002 when it commenced its operations. The Trust was, however, dissolved 20 years after, in August 2022, so that the new Trust could be incorporated in accordance with the provisions of the PIA 2021.
Before its dissolution, however, the Trust had been administered by three sets of Boards of Trustees. The first chairman of the Board was Eze Gbakagbaka, HRM Eze (Amb) Frank A. Eke (JP) of blessed memory. He was succeeded by Prof. Sylvanus J.S. Cookey, while in November 2016, Chief Chamberlain Oyibo took over.
One fundamental change in the PIA model of the Trust is the requirement that the Trustees should come from the host communities. This ultimately puts the sustainable development of the host communities firmly in the hands of the trustees.
According to the PIA 2021, the objectives of setting out the Host Communities Development Trust are:
to foster sustainable prosperity within the host communities; to provide direct social and economic benefits from petroleum operations to host communities; to enhance peaceful and harmonious co-existence between licensees or lessees (the oil companies) and the host communities; and
to create a framework to support the development of host communities.
As the NDPR embarks on this remarkable journey with its MURALI Host Communities’ Development Trust Fund, last week’s inauguration of the new Fund paves the way for transformative changes that are set to uplift the Niger Delta region and serve as a model for responsible corporate citizenship.
By: Boye Salau