The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Seplat Energy Joint Venture have trained and empowered 127 teachers and education evaluators in Imo State as part of an effort to improve teaching quality and prepare educators for the demands of modern education.
The beneficiaries graduated from the first cohort of the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP), which focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM), as well as practical skills that can help teachers earn additional income.
The graduation ceremony was held in Owerri and brought together government officials, education stakeholders, teachers and representatives of the NNPC-Seplat Energy Joint Venture.
Speaking at the event, Seplat Energy’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, represented by the company’s General Manager of Corporate Social Investment, Esther Icha, said the programme demonstrates the company’s commitment to supporting education.
She explained that teachers play an important role in shaping the future of children and that providing them with relevant skills can improve learning outcomes across schools.
According to the company, the programme was created to help primary and secondary school teachers adopt modern approaches to teaching, particularly in subjects linked to STEAM.
The training goes beyond classroom teaching. Participants were also introduced to alternative income-generating skills aimed at helping them become more financially resilient.
The initiative is expected to give teachers additional opportunities to support themselves financially while continuing their careers in education.
The Imo State Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Prof. Benard Ikegwuoha, praised the NNPC-Seplat Energy Joint Venture for its contribution to education in the state.
He said the knowledge gained from the programme could have a long-term effect on the quality of teaching in Imo schools. He encouraged the beneficiaries to put their new skills into practice and share what they had learned with other teachers and students.
The joint best-graduating teachers, Samuel Chijoke and Onuoha Success, thanked the organisers for the opportunity. They described the training as a valuable experience and promised to pass their knowledge on to their colleagues and students.
Other government officials at the ceremony also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in improving education.
The Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme forms part of Seplat Energy’s wider social investment efforts in education, healthcare and community development.
The company has implemented similar teacher development initiatives in other parts of Nigeria, with the goal of improving professional skills and encouraging continuous learning among educators.
The successful graduation of the first Imo cohort marks another step in the partnership between NNPC, Seplat Energy and the state government.
With more training expected in the future, the initiative could help strengthen the teaching workforce and give more Nigerian teachers the skills needed to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
