Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company has kicked off the 3rd edition of its Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in Benin City Edo State, empowering a total of 300 teachers from both Edo and Delta States.
The STEP initiative launched in 2022 seeks to promote teacher’s creative thinking, allow for higher student engagement, and offer a well-rounded education for recipients of the programme. The programme empowers teachers by providing them with resources to support their delivery of quality teaching in Seplat Energy’s host states, Edo and Delta State.
The official kick off of this year’s edition was preceded by a four-day residential workshop which provided leadership, self-improvement introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) training and its application to teaching.
This year, 905 teachers wrote the online qualifying test, and 300 teachers qualified from both states for the 4 day-long residential training. The training which was a huge success, will continue online for a further 3 months. In her opening remarks, Seplat Energy’s Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Dr. Chioma Nwachuku, represented by Joseph Ofili, Business Relations Manager, stated that Seplat Energy in conjunction with its JV partners, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology, decided to embark on this initiative to empower teachers towards providing a better education platform for students who are the future leaders.
Responding to the opening remarks, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Joan Osa Oviawe commended Seplat Energy for STEP Initiative which she branded as a transformative training programme. She also commended the quality and robustness of courses being offered and urged the teachers to share the learnings from the programme with their colleagues who were unable to be part of it.
She also encouraged the teachers to ensure their schools and students benefit from the additional knowledge received from the STEP initiative.
Also speaking at the event, the Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, represented by Mrs. Clementina Ojuma, Director of Schools Department, Delta State Ministry of Education, commended the efforts of Seplat Energy and NPDC “for the determination to continually uphold it corporate social responsibilities to its host states, which has sustained quality education in Edo and Delta States over time.”
