NPDC/NDW OML 34 Empower Over 50 Youths With Starter Packs In Delta

The Management of NPDC/NDW OML 34 JV, have empowered over 50 persons drawn from her host communities with starter packs after a successful 6 months skills acquisition/capacity building and empowerment programme in Delta State.

The programme organised by the company as part of its GMoU with her host communities was held at Okor victory hotel in Otor-Udu, Udu local government area of the state on Thursday.

Over 50 trainees trained in various skills ranging from fashion design, hair dressing, carpentry, electrical, auto mechanic, received starter packs at the occasion which had dignitaries across the state.

Speaking at the event, Manager, Government, Community relations and Security, Mr. Sheidu Aiguedo, who represented Chief Edirin Abamwa, Chief Operating Officer of the company, said that the company hold dearly the wellbeing of her host communities and would continued to do anything that will benefit the people and sustain the existing harmonious relationship between the company and the committees.

He said that 25 communities in OML 34 GMoU nominated 2 persons for the Skills Acquisition programme for a period of six months in their respective skills.

The programme commissioned on Thursday, he said was the presentation of Starter Packs to the 50 trainees who have successfully completed their Skills acquisition programme adding “we are here to empower them with Starter Packs for the establishment of their various trades”.

“This programme is executed under the GMOU model of NPDC/NDW-AMT: This model is community driven and its success depends on strong community institutions being able to clearly articulate, plan and deliver sustainable development interventions that will positively affect the livelihood of people in NPDC/NDW-AMT’s operational area.

“The NPDC/NDW-AMT community Investment programme is aimed at promoting sustainable development in its operational areas and also to create peaceful co existence for its operations. The GMOU requires NPDC/NDW-AMT to implement highly visible, capital intensive infrastructures and programmes, like the Skills acquisition programme to be commissioned today and other short-term activities-human capital development and economic empowerment”, Aiguedo said.

He said that NPDC/NDW-AMT has developed a long-term approach that would give communities more responsibility in deciding how community investment funds provided by NPDC/NOW-AMT are managed.

The long-term approach, he said would provide a platform for building mutually beneficial relationships with communities and create an enabling environment for business continuity and growth.

While urging the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously, Aiguedo stated that the programme was a product of collaboration with the CRC, CO and the community leadership who ensured the timely execution of the programme.

“Therefore, we earnestly appeal to beneficiaries to ensure that the Starter Packs are deployed for the intended purposes and properly maintained. It is our hope that the various trades would serve as training grounds for other indigenes and generate more self-employment opportunities”.

In an address presented, the chairman OML 34 Community Development Board, Comrade Kingsley Governor Mokoro, thanked the oil company for the GMoU enabled training programme which was conceptualized since 2019 saying that the training would enhanced the social economic of the host communities.

“Over the period of 2019, this capacity program has been in the making and good enough, I am privilege to inherit it for implementation in 2021. It behold of you beneficiaries to use these starter packs for your economic gains which will transform into multiplier effect”.

“We are grateful to the company for this laudable programme. The company’s passion for development and to fulfill her social and economic engagement obligation, we are gathered today to witness this unique programme where starter packs will be given to individual beneficiaries”, he added.

Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the Partnership Communication and Capacity Building Committee, Dr. Kehinde Taiga, urged the beneficiaries not to follow the steps of those who sell their starters packs to willing buyers after such programme. He said he would personally monitor the business endeavors of the beneficiaries to see how they are utilizing the items.