The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has restated its commitment to ongoing partnership with TotalEnergies to implement sustainable community development projects that will positively impact the lives of the citizens of Nigeria.
Chief Upstream Investment Officer, of the NNPCL, Upstream Investment Management Services , NUIMS, Bala Wunti, who gave the assurance in Lagos yesterday, at the 2024 Symposium and Awards, of the NNPCL/TotalEnergies Empowering The Teacher, ETT, programme, recalled that the NNPCL along with its partners have implemented various intervention programmes and projects especially in the areas of education, skill acquisition, economic empowerment, healthcare, provision of solar power and other infrastructure intervention projects.
Wunti, notes that the Company and TotalEnergies fully understand that investing in education means investing in the future and that the collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, reflects their shares belief in the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of empowering teachers with the tools necessary to foster critical thinking, innovation, the curriculum and a global perspective.
According to him, education is the cornerstone of progress and when a programme like Empowering The Teachers aligns forces with an institution of the caliber of MIT, we witness the fusion of innovations excellence, and global collaboration, adding, “Together, we had embarked on this journey to uplift and empower educators who play integral role in sculpting the minds of the next generation since 2010.”
Wunti, continued by saying that empowering the Teachers Program is not just an initiative but a commitment to nurturing the growth and development of our society through the empowerment of those who mold the next generation.
He said the NNPCL/ Totalenergies recognize the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on the lives of their students and the communities they serve.
He therefore, congratulated those honoured during the event for well- deserved recognition, saying, “Your commitment to excellence and your tireless efforts in the pursuit of knowledge inspire us all. Your role extends beyond the dissemination of information; you are the catalysts for change, the architects of progress, and the mentors who guide future leaders.”
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria
Limited, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, said the programme is another educational initiative that TotalEnergies, in collaboration with NNPC Limited and partners, has continued to invest in to further improve the quality of learning in Nigeria.
Bouyer, stated that under the ETT programme, academics selected from African universities spend one intensive and inclusive semester acquiring knowledge on the innovative and
cutting-edge teaching methods used at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology to mould students into industry-ready products.
The aim of this he went on to say is to
foster new ways of teaching science and engineering in African tertiary
institutions in a bid to produce experts in that field who can compete with their
counterparts in other regions of the world in terms of critical thinking and
problem-solving abilities.
The experience of the academics at MIT Bouyer added is expected to culminate in the development of new courses and the modification of existing
ones in a bid to revolutionise science and engineering teaching in African tertiary institutions.
“In Nigeria, for example, we are glad to see the impact the MIT-ETT scheme is
already making in tertiary education. Since 2013, over 90 university lecturers
have benefited from the programme in the country. We are excited for the
promise the near future holds for science and engineering education in Nigeria, especially because as we expect more lecturers to benefit from this knowledge exchange programme.
Interestingly, TotalEnergies’ contributions to education development in Nigeria and indeed Africa go beyond the MIT-ETT scheme; all across the sector, the company’s footprints are visible”
He said further, “For instance, in December 2023, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Institute of Petroleum and Energy Studies, which is the fruit of a partnership between the Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP School) and the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Since its inception in 2003, IPES has
produced hundreds of MSc. graduates in Petroleum Engineering and Project
Development, and post-graduate diploma holders in Petroleum Technology.”
Graduates of the IPES programme are today spread throughout the oil and gas
industry, adding value in different ways to the sector.
He said the company’s engagement with the institute is, however, not limited to funding alone, adding that TotalEnergies also provides practical learning opportunities to MSc and PGD graduates through postgraduation internships and mentoring.
Bouyer also said, “Our employees, subject experts in their various fields, volunteer to join the faculty of the IPES, providing relevant industry perspectives.
Not too long ago, he said said TotalEnergies donated truckloads of geoscience equipment to six universities across the country, including the University of Lagos, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the University of Ilorin, the University of Ibadan, the University of Port Harcourt, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The company has also invested in various scholarship schemes, including the National Merit Scholarship Scheme, from which over 30,000 students have
benefited since 2003.
The TotalEnergies International Scholarship, jointly sponsored by NNPC Ltd. and partners, has equally seen several Nigerians undergo post-graduate studies overseas, with over 150 graduates since inception.
There is also Community Scholarship Scheme, which has existed since 1973 and has benefitted hundreds of students in host communities across Nigeria at the undergraduate and post graduate level.
