News
RSG Commends TotalEnegies For Women-Oriented Project
The Rivers State Government has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)/ TotalEnergies and her partners for the completion and handover of Women Development and Skills Acquisition centre to the State government.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Rivers State, Dr Roseline Ampuwari Uranta, who made the commendation during the commissioning and handover of the project, yesterday, said NNPC/ TotalEnergies and her partners had performed their Corporate Social Responsibility to the people of the State.
Uranta commended the companies for the completion of the project, noting that the women will greatly benefit from the project.
According to her, the State government is very responsive to the needs of the people hence it ensures an enabling and peaceful environment for investors in the State.
She recalled that the proposal and groundbreaking ceremony was done in 2017, adding that it led to the processes in bringing about this magnificent edifice being commissioned today.
Earlier, The Managing Director, Chief Executive, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr Matthieu Bouyer implored the Rivers State Government to ensure the sustainable use of the facility to impact the people positively.
Bouyer who was represented by the Executive Director, People and Country Service, Mrs Evi Ifekwe, noted that the sustainability barometer of the project shall be seen during her impact assessment exercise by the company.
Bouyer said, the Women Development and Skills Acquisition Centre project was realized using the novel approach of “ Project Managers” explaining that the project which is new in the industry, permits the delivery of projects in remote and challenging environments while ensuring the use of local expertise and stakeholder engagement.
According to him, “ In 2016, Total Energies commenced a robust plan to deploy Corporate Social Responsibility infrastructure development across the country, which resulted in a strategy to deliver 84 physical projects across the six geo political zones of Nigeria”.
He further explained that of these infrastructure projects, 64 have already been completed and commissioned from the earlier phases.
According to him, “In 2023, the total of three projects have been completed, while 17 are at advance stages of completion and would be unveiled before the end of the year”.
Bouyer said these projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and technical education, maternal and child health, access to clean water and women and youth empowerment.
He said these projects were in congruence with related United Nations sustainable Development Goals and that TotalEnergies is strongly committed to these goals.
The TotalEnergies boss said the project is a purpose built, fully furnished and equipped, adding that it is unique among all projects delivered in this phase with four special training rooms for computer, fashion, catering and hybrid.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chief Upstream investment officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mr Balam Wunti, said NNPC is a socially responsible business that is geared towards the economic empowerment of the communities and the country at large.
Wunti said the company is sensitive to the needs of the people and its goal is to ensure that Nigerians benefit from corporate social responsibility intervention based on verifiable and critically assessed needs of various identified beneficiary states across the country.
He noted that the Petroleum Industry Act provisions ensure that communities received direct social and economic benefits from energy operations, stressing that NNPC Limited, along with it’s partners, have implemented various projects in the area of education, building and equipping schools/classrooms, laboratories, donation of books, scholarships etc.
By: Ike Wigodo
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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