The Shell
Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Thursday presented a start-up capital
to 100 entrepreneurs who successfully completed a business management training
in Bayelsa sponsored by the oil firm.
Dr Akinwumi
Fajola, Regional Community Health Manager , SPDC said the gesture , Ogbia
Special LiveWIRE programme was targeted at Ogbial Local Government Area in
Bayelsa where it struck oil in commercial quantities at Oloibiri over 60 years
ago.
Fajola who
was represented by Mrs Ufuoma Ovwigho, Clinical Surveillance Lead at SPDC noted
that the oil firm has spent $5 million
to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of Shell’s oil prospecting
activities in Nigeria.
She said
that the company realizes the historic value of Oloibiri in the oil and gas exploration in Nigeria and
hence the sponsorship of the Oloibiri Health Project to give back to the Ogbia
communities.
“As part the
centenary commenmoration of Shell’s oil prospecting activities in Nigeria, the
Shell group in 2015 committed to a novel $5 million health project in Nigeria.
This initiative gave birth to the ‘Oloibiri Health Programme, (OHP)
“OHP is a
three year social investment initiative named after the Oloibiri Community in
Bayelsa.
“It aims to
improve health and healthcare within the Ogbia LGA in a holistic way, beyond
treating illnesses but including access to potable water , sanitation and
education.
“OHP
achieved upgrade and integrating health facilities, training and supporting
local healthcare and community workers, ensuring a reliable supply of medicine.
“It also
aims at improving social determinants of health by galvanizing economic
activities through the Live WIRE programme and building a knowledge/research
centre in Ogbia LGA,” Ovwigho.
According to
her, the support of 100 people in the Ogbia Special LiveWIRE programme, an
income generating intervention is one of the components of the $ %million OHP.
40 of the 100 beneficiaries were uneducated
marker women while 30 graduates and 30 school leavers.
Speaking on
behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms Patricia Nicholas applauded SPDC for the
support with business management skills and start-up capital and urged the oil
firm to extend the gesture to more beneficiaries.
Speaking
earlier, Chief Benson Agadaga, President of Ogbia Brotherhood, a Socio Cultural
group applauded SPDC for the support to 100 entreprenuers and urged the
beneficiaries to create more jobs to impact the larger society.
He noted
that Ogbia Communities had enjoyed social amenities like roads in the past but
noted that the company needs to step up its social support to its host
communities.
“We appeal further
to SPDC to deploy its expertise in power generation to the benefit of these and
other people in Ogbia communities with electricity to help these and other
businesses to thrive,” Agadaga said
No comments:
Post a Comment