The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing teacher capacity in Edo State and Delta State.
The pledge was made in Benin City during the graduation ceremony of 623 teachers and education inspectors who completed the 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
Speaking at the event, Seplat Energy’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their respective classrooms.
“Teach, inspire and transform is not a slogan, it is a responsibility,” she said.
In his address, NEPL’s Managing Director, Nicolas Foucart, described STEP as a collaborative initiative designed to create lasting social impact. Foucart, who was represented by Oluwaseyi Orimoloye, noted that the programme provides teachers with critical thinking abilities, leadership competencies and technology-driven instructional tools.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, stated that the initiative aligns with Edo State’s broader education reform agenda.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, represented by Mrs Caroline Ikem, reiterated the Federal Government’s emphasis on improving teacher quality nationwide. She urged the graduates to transfer their knowledge to colleagues, stressing the role of educators in shaping the nation’s future.
The Country Director of the British Council, Donna McGowan, represented by Chikodi Onyemerela, underscored the importance of continuous professional development, particularly in digital literacy and modern teaching methodologies.
Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, alongside Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr Emmanuel Paddy Iyamu, commended the joint venture partners and encouraged participants to extend the benefits of the programme within their schools.
