Keypoints
- The NNPC/Seplat joint venture has trained and empowered 127 teachers and education evaluators in Imo State.
- The beneficiaries participated in the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
- Training covered digital teaching techniques and alternative income-generation skills.
- The Imo cohort is the programme’s first intervention in the state.
- STEP has previously been implemented in Edo and Delta, with more than 2,000 teachers trained.
- Three beneficiaries received cash grants for their business concepts.
- The initiative seeks to strengthen teachers professionally while improving their economic resilience and community impact.
Main Story
The NNPC/Seplat joint venture has empowered 127 teachers and education evaluators in Imo State with digital teaching techniques and alternative income-generation skills under its Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme.
The beneficiaries graduated from the first Imo cohort of the programme during a ceremony held in Owerri.
Speaking at the ceremony, Seplat’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, represented by Esther Icha, General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, said STEP was designed to strengthen teachers’ professional development while making them more economically resourceful.
She said the initiative reflected the joint venture’s belief that empowering teachers was an effective way of creating lasting transformation in communities.
According to her, STEP had previously been implemented in Edo and Delta states, where more than 2,000 teachers had been trained. The Imo edition marked the programme’s first intervention in the state.
Afe urged the beneficiaries to use their newly acquired digital skills in the classroom and share their knowledge with other teachers and students.
She said the true impact of the programme would be measured by the students inspired, colleagues supported and communities influenced by the beneficiaries.
Also speaking, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Olanrewaju Igandan, described teachers as critical channels for transferring knowledge to younger generations.
Igandan, represented by Chizoba Onyike, Subsurface Operations Adviser, NUIMS, commended stakeholders for contributing to the success of the programme and wished the beneficiaries success.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bertram Ikegwuoha, also urged the teachers to use the knowledge gained to positively influence their students.
The governor commended Seplat and NNPC for the initiative and encouraged the beneficiaries to uphold STEP’s motto: “Teach. Inspire. Transform.”
As part of the empowerment component, beneficiaries also presented business concepts for evaluation.
Choice Nwachukwu emerged overall winner with a concept on antiseptic production, scoring 432 points and receiving a N500,000 grant.
Obinna Anele, who presented a concept on unripe plantain flour, placed second with 425 points and received N300,000, while Golden Ezekwe, whose concept focused on braiding, came third with 421 points and received N200,000.
The Issues
- Many teachers face the challenge of acquiring relevant digital skills as education becomes increasingly technology-driven.
- Limited alternative income opportunities can affect teachers’ economic resilience.
- Training programmes require sustained follow-up to ensure that acquired skills are effectively applied in classrooms and businesses.
- The expansion of teacher empowerment programmes beyond individual beneficiaries is necessary to achieve broader community impact.
- Access to start-up capital remains a challenge for teachers seeking to implement viable business ideas.
What’s Being Said
Chioma Afe, Seplat Director of External Affairs and Social Performance:
Afe said empowering teachers remained an effective way of transforming communities and urged beneficiaries to apply their digital skills in classrooms while sharing their knowledge with colleagues and students.
Olanrewaju Igandan, NUIMS Chief Upstream Investment Officer:
Igandan described teachers as critical channels for transferring knowledge to younger generations and commended stakeholders for supporting the programme.
Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor:
The governor urged beneficiaries to positively influence their students and embody STEP’s motto, “Teach. Inspire. Transform.”
What’s Next
The graduating teachers are expected to apply the digital teaching skills acquired through STEP in their classrooms while using the income-generation knowledge to develop sustainable livelihoods.
The programme’s expansion to Imo also creates an opportunity for the NNPC/Seplat joint venture to deepen its education interventions in the state and extend the initiative to more teachers and communities.
Bottom Line
The empowerment of 127 teachers in Imo demonstrates how corporate social investment can combine professional development with economic empowerment. By equipping teachers with digital and entrepreneurial skills, the NNPC/Seplat joint venture is seeking to create an impact that extends beyond the beneficiaries to their students, schools and wider communities.
