Rivers

‘TotalEnergies Has High Interest In Educational Advancement’

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2023

As the world celebrated World Teachers Day, TotalEnergies E and P Limited says its interest in educational advancement of Nigerian students is high.
The Deputy Managing Director, Joint Venture Asset, Total Energies, Mr. Guillaume Dulout, who made this known at the 2023 book reading and Open Day event in Port Harcourt on Thursday, said the oil multi national will continue to promote reading among students and encourage youth to develop the habit of reading as a way of life.
Dulout noted that the 2023 book reading presents opportunity to share career trajectories and explore career requirements and opportunities to guide students make early career decisions.
He explained that reading involves a considerable level of concentration and thus builds discipline, patience, critical thinking as well as knowledge, adding that all these virtues will help students who engaged in reading to form good character development, necessary for living a successful life.
According to him, “it is based on this conviction of reading that Total Energies in Nigeria became committed to the educational development of the country.
He said Total Energies as a company is a melting pot of STEM-driven innovations with technological expertise that has seen them play pioneering roles in deep water developments in Nigeria.
“We have partnered with key stakeholders to improve STEM learning and Provide better career opportunities for Nigerians in STEM- professions”, he said.
He revealed that the firm initiated some programmes such as Institute of Petroleum and energy studies (IPES), MIT- Empowering the Teacher ( MIT-ETT), African University of Science and Technology (AUST) and Sponsorship of professional Associations.
“The Institute of Petroleum and Energy Studies is a postgraduate school established in 2003, through an international collaboration between University of Port Harcourt and Ecole du Petrole et des Mother’s ( IFP School) Paris, France, in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation EP joint Venture, and has graduated about 544 students at postgraduate and Master’s degree levels.
The Objective of the MIT Empowering the Teacher programme is to enable outstanding young Nigerian faculty in science and engineering to collaborate with faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in developing new curriculum and teaching methods with emphasis on the problem solving while African University helps funding research and equipping their laboratory”, he explained.
The Executive Director further explained that Total Energies Limited sponsors conferences and exhibitions as well as the technical sessions of bodies such as society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE,) Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists ( NAPE), Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS).
He expressed regret that reading has become a more tasking activity because of social media and other forms of entertainment like electronic games and warned Nigerian students not to allow these media and their devices to sabotage their dream of becoming a success story to the society.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy General Manager, External Communications, Dr Charles Ebereonwu, said Total Energies will continue to do her best in educational advancement of the country.
Ebereonwu noted that Total Energies objective was to build a role model to help build a better nation and shape the future of students in the country.
According him, “Our target is to sharpen and shape the students for a better society”.
He, however, advised the students to sustain the culture of reading which will help them in future.
The Commissioner of Education, Rivers State, Chinedu Mmoh, commended TotalEnergies Limited for her contributions in advancing the standard of education in the county.
Mmoh, who was represented by the Director, Quality Assurance, in the Ministry, Emmanuel Onumbu, urged the students to concentrate in their studies and take their studies and reading serious to better the society.
The book chosen for this year book reading and Open Day event for Senior secondary Schools is “ Second Class Citizens” by Buchi Emecheta.
About nine secondary schools in Rivers State participated in the 2023 book reading organised by the oil firm.

By: Ike Wigodo

Rivers

NDDC Provides Lifeline To Flood-Hit Ogu-Bolo Community

Published

5 days ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

In response to the recent flood disaster that displaced families, destroyed farmlands, and worsened economic hardship in Ogu/Bolo Community, The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed relief materials to residents of the community.

Presenting the items on behalf of the Managing Director, the Director II, Education, Health and Social Services, Engr. Jeremiah Onolejoloni, said the intervention underscores the commission’s commitment to alleviating the plight of vulnerable communities across the Niger Delta.

According to a statement by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the gesture followed the devastating impact of flooding on livelihoods in the community.

The Managing Director noted that the commission, in collaboration with the Derek and Davia Foundation, provided financial support to facilitate the distribution of essential food items and household materials to affected residents.

He described the initiative as part of efforts to address pressing needs, adding that it also reflects government’s solidarity with citizens facing economic challenges.

“This intervention goes beyond palliatives. It is a demonstration of government’s presence, compassion and commitment to supporting families in distress, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President,” he said.

He urged community leaders to ensure fair distribution of the items and encouraged residents to sustain peace and support development programmes.

The Paramount Ruler of Ogu-Bolo, Chief Joachim Amachiri, commended the Commission for the timely intervention, noting that it would provide much-needed relief to victims of the flood.

He reaffirmed the community’s support for NDDC initiatives aimed at improving living conditions in the region.

Also speaking, a consultant on the programme, represented by Dr. George Smile, praised the commission’s responsiveness to disaster-affected communities, disclosing that plans were underway, in partnership with development stakeholders, to extend similar support to neighbouring areas.

Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Don Traces Nigeria’s Highway Woes To Design Failures … Proposes Mechanistic-Empirical Design Approach

Published

5 days ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

A lecturer at the Rivers State University (RSU), Professor Emmanuel Osilemme Ekwulo, has called for a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria’s highway pavement systems, stating that poor design practices and weak standards, not just inadequate funding, are at the heart of the country’s persistent road failures.

Delivering the 128th inaugural lecture at the Rivers State University, titled “Removing Roadblocks: Rebuilding The Foundation For Reliable Highway Pavement Infrastructure”, Ekwulo argued that Nigeria’s roads will continue to deteriorate prematurely unless critical engineering principles are strictly applied and enforced.

According to him, recurring defects in the nation’s highways stem from a combination of faulty design processes, substandard construction materials, weak regulatory enforcement, poor drainage systems, and widespread disregard for professional ethics.

He stressed that these systemic failures have undermined the durability of road infrastructure despite significant financial investments.

“Premature pavement failures in Nigeria are not due to lack of funds alone, but largely due to poor design decisions, weak material standards, and absence of accountability,” he said.

Ekwulo proposed the adoption of the mechanistic-empirical design approach, a scientifically grounded method for predicting pavement performance, as a pathway to improving road quality.

He also advocated for the development of a localized framework, the Nigerian Empirical and Mechanistic Pavement Design System (NEMPADS), to reflect the country’s unique environmental and material conditions.

He further recommended stricter quality control measures, including independent audits, the establishment of a national database for material characterization, and compulsory traffic load analysis for all road projects.

The use of modified binders and advanced materials, he added, would enhance pavement resilience.

To ensure sustainability, the Professor called for the implementation of a National Pavement Management System to coordinate maintenance and monitoring efforts nationwide, noting that consistent upkeep is essential to prolonging road lifespan.

Ekwulo emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, urging universities to lead applied research initiatives and pilot projects that can deliver practical solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said universities must play a frontline role in addressing national development issues through research-driven interventions.

He described the lecture as timely, noting that the neglect of core engineering standards has contributed significantly to the country’s failing highways.

The event, held at the Dr. Ezenwo Wike Senate Building in the campus, also featured the formal decoration of Ekwulo as the institution’s 128th inaugural lecturer.

Reiterating his position after the lecture, Ekwulo stated that with proper design methods, quality materials, and strict adherence to global standards, Nigeria’s roads can achieve their intended lifespan of 10 to 20 years or more.

“Without a return to engineering fundamentals and accountability, investments in road infrastructure will continue to yield poor results”, he concluded.

Rivers

CP Reaffirms Commitment To Human Rights, Community Policing In Rivers

Published

5 days ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has assured residents of the command’s commitment to upholding human rights and delivering people-oriented policing.

He stressed that officers under his watch would continue to operate within the confines of the law, while strengthening community relations.

Adepoju gave the assurance during a sensitisation walk organised by the State Police Command as part of activities marking the National Police Day in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the exercise was aimed at fostering trust and enhancing cooperation between the police and the public.

While expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving a special day for the Nigeria Police to celebrate its achievements, he described the gesture as a morale booster that would spur officers to greater efficiency and professionalism in service delivery.

The CP also commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for initiating a week-long celebration, which he said had provided an opportunity for the police to reconnect with citizens and showcase reforms within the force.

According to him, the large turnout of residents, stakeholders and members of the business community during the exercise was a clear indication of the growing confidence reposed in the police by the people of Rivers State.

He reiterated that the Command would sustain its sensitisation efforts, adding that officers had been adequately briefed to respect the rights of citizens, maintain professionalism and work closely with the media to promote transparency and accountability.

Adepoju disclosed that the week-long activities commenced with environmental sanitation across commands and divisions, alongside public enlightenment campaigns targeted at strengthening police-community relations.

He further revealed that the Command had also embarked on free medical outreach for both officers and members of the public, as part of its corporate social responsibility and commitment to public welfare.

The CP added that financial support would be extended to widows of fallen police officers through the presentation of cheques, in line with directives from the police high command, to cushion the effects of their loss.

In his response, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state, Voke Emore, said the initiative was geared towards rebuilding trust between the police and the communities they serve.

Emore noted that the renewed synergy between the police and residents in Rivers State had created an enabling environment for effective policing, urging the public to continue supporting security agencies with useful information.

Also, a representative of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Chima Nnaji, said the group participated in the walk to show solidarity with their spouses.

The event drew attendance from senior police officers, members of the PCRC, and stakeholders from various sectors of the state.

King Onunwor