NNPC, Seplat Energy empower 127 Imo teachers

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Seplat Energy Joint Venture have empowered 127 teachers and education evaluators with digital skills in Imo State.

This was a major highlight of the graduation of its first cohort of teachers under the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme on STEAM-focused teaching techniques and approaches and alternative income-generation skills to strengthen their professional development and make them economically resourceful.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Owerri on Monday, the Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Social Investment, Esther Icha, said the programme reflected the company’s commitment to investing in education and equipping educators with the tools needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

She emphasised that empowering teachers was central to improving learning outcomes and building a sustainable future for Nigerian children.

The STEP initiative is designed to enhance the capacity of primary and secondary school teachers by introducing them to modern pedagogical methods, particularly in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

In addition to pedagogical training, the programme also provides participants with alternative income-generating skills, enabling them to become more economically resilient and less dependent solely on their teaching salaries.

During the ceremony, the Honourable Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Imo State, Prof. Benard Ikegwuoha, commended the NNPC and Seplat Energy Joint Venture for their continued support for education in the state.

He noted that the training would have a lasting impact on the quality of education delivered in Imo schools and urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge and skills acquired to improve their classroom practices and inspire their students.

The Joint Best-Graduating Teachers, Samuel Chijoke and Onuoha Success, expressed their gratitude to the organisers for the opportunity to participate in the programme. They described the training as transformative and pledged to share their newly acquired skills with their colleagues and students, thereby multiplying the impact of the initiative.

The graduation ceremony was attended by key stakeholders in the education sector, including the Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence, Imo State, Dr Henry Okafor, who reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with private organisations to advance educational development.

The Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme is part of Seplat Energy’s broader corporate social investment strategy, which focuses on education, health and community development in its areas of operation. The company has previously implemented similar teacher training programmes in other states, with a view to raising educational standards and fostering a culture of continuous professional development among educators.

The successful graduation of the first cohort in Imo State marks a significant milestone in the partnership between the NNPC and Seplat Energy Joint Venture and the Imo State Government, and it is expected that subsequent cohorts will further strengthen the capacity of the state’s teaching workforce.