OneSubsea, Esso train 60 youths, commission projects in Anambra

As part of its commitment to Nigerian Content and corporate social responsibility to Nigerians, OneSubsea Offshore Systems Nigerian Limited recently marked the graduation of 60 trainees from its skill acquisition programme and commissioned solar powered boreholes, virtual laboratories and science library projects.

Although the CSR activities were sited at selected communities in the country, the symbolic commissioning and graduation of the trainees was held on Friday at Abatete Town, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Apart from OneSubsea, other sponsors of the activities included Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (ExxonMobil), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Petroleum and Development Company Nigeria (SPDC).

The skill acquisition programme benefitted 60 youths drawn from three communities, 20 each from Abatete, Umuawaragu-nara, in Enugu State and Gboko in Benue State and they were trained for six weeks on entrepreneurial skills, business development and management, agricultural production, bakery/catering and fashion designing. The training was facilitated by United Aid International (UAI), a non-governmental organisation with special focus on grassroots development.

In his speech at the event, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Patrick Daziba Obah commended OneSubsea for providing Nigerian youths with entrepreneurial skills and starter parks, noting that the company’s efforts were in tandem with the human capacity development expectations of the Nigerian Content Act 2010.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Supervisor, Capacity Building, Mr. Augustine Timbiri explained the Board’s mandate and activities to the Abatete community. Describing the process of getting registered on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS) portal, Timbiri stated that registration would avail the youths the opportunity of being picked for training and employment by various operating and service oil and gas companies.

In his comments, the Nigerian Content Manager, OneSubsea Offshore Systems, Mr. Donald Ibegbu commended Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria for its support in transforming the lives of the youths in the communities.

Also speaking, the representative of Esso, Mr. Richard Mekafu noted that the company had always participated in the development of local communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Honorable Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Science and Technology, Anambra State, Dr. Chinedu Emeka while speaking, thanked the oil companies for bringing development to Anambra State and assured that the state government will partner with all developmental partners interested in the state.