By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

The Management of Seplat Energy JV, in collaboration with NNPC Ltd., on Thursday empowered 327 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) teachers and 15 Chief Inspectors of Education (CIEs) from Edo and Delta.

The beneficiaries, who were trained on the latest tools, strategies, and technologies, graduated during the Seplat Energy JV 2025 Education Summit held in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the teachers received training under the 5th edition of the Seplat Energy/NNPC Science Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP), aimed at promoting the STEAM model of learning.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Benin, Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat, disclosed that over 1,334 teachers had been trained since the inception of the STEP initiative in 2020.

Afe noted that the initiative has positively impacted over 100,000 students annually in Edo and Delta states.

She disclosed that Seplat had developed a STEP App, an innovative, one-stop platform for online learning, offering access to over 10,000 to empower both educators and learners.

Afe said that the objective of the STEP initiative was solely entrepreneurship, adding that several teachers had leveraged the skills gained through STEP to launch successful businesses.

She emphasised that these benefits translated into better outcomes for students and a stronger education system.

?Through our collaboration with organizations that provide continuous learning, we have distributed devices and integrated STEAM education, transforming knowledge transfer in classrooms,? she added.

Afe maintained that the programme equipped teachers to navigate and teach in the 21st century, preparing students to embrace future challenges and opportunities.

Also speaking, Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director of NNPC E.P Ltd., noted that the initiative was designed to build the capacity of teachers within the NNPCL/Seplat operational communities.

Foucart, represented by Mrs Susan Bassey, Community Liaison Officer, East Assets, NNPCL, explained that the programme was part of the company?s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to its host communities.

?The success of the STEP programme is evident in the testimonies of past participants who have not only enhanced their teaching skills but also leveraged their training in broader capacities,? Foucart said.

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, commended Seplat Energy and NEPL for not only contributing to infrastructure but also investing in teachers? development.

Omorogbe emphasised that education was the most critical factor for a nation?s success and prosperity, urging stakeholders to take it seriously.

?Nigeria spends a minimum of four percent of its GDP on education, compared with the world average of about 4.15 percent.

?If you compare this with the UNESCO recommended percentage of 15 to 20 percent, Nigeria ranks very low, which explains the poor state of our educational system.

?Nigeria has the worst statistics globally, with about 10 million out-of-school children, serious infrastructure gaps, and systemic failures.

?This is where Seplat Energy and NEPL step in, and we must commend them for partnering with the government to raise the standard of education in Nigeria.? she said.

She noted that Seplat had taken significant steps by supporting both students and teachers, who form the foundation of education, while also addressing the issue of teachers? underpayment through the entrepreneurship programme.

Omorogbe added that transforming the educational workforce required addressing the reality that teachers were often underpaid and undervalued, which contributed to their demotivation.

?It is incumbent upon us to create an education system that rewards and values teachers, ensuring a brighter future for Nigeria,? she added.

In his remarks, Dr Paddy Iyamu, Edo State Commissioner for Education, commended NEPL/Seplat Energy for their unwavering commitment to education.

Iyamu, however, urged the awardees to continue being torchbearers of excellence in the education sector.

On her part, Mrs Rose Ezewu, Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, noted that over 600 teachers in Delta had been trained since STEP?s inception, with 171 teachers benefitting from the 2024/25 training.

Ezewu, represented by Mrs Justina Shaka, Director of Schools, highlighted the profound and transformative impact of the capacity building on teachers, which had significantly bridged the knowledge gap in STEM education

Earlier, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs Agatha Ogefere, stated that the STEP programme had demonstrated its impact by equipping educators with modern teaching techniques aligned with global best practices.

He commended Seplat JV for its visionary leadership in education reform and congratulated the latest cohort of trained teachers, who he said were now better equipped to implement Nigeria?s evolving curriculum. (NAN)

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