Two oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom State, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC) and Natural Oil Field Service Limited (NOSL) have expressed their commitment to continue to give deserved care and sustenance for the welfare of their host communities.
According to a statement made available to The Nation, the firms noted that strengthening the education system is at the heart of its community development policies. Consequently, as a show of commitment towards the community, the NOFSL presented educational and extra-curricular items including executive chairs, tables, and standard football pitches to schools across four local governments areas of Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat- Enin, and Eastern Obolo of the state.
“NPDC and NOFSL will continue to support them in their capacity by playing their part in the educational and non-educational development of the selected schools,” Etete Ekpo, base manager at NOFSL said.
“They have also acted as educational advocates and have taken the responsibility to provide basic infrastructure, training programmes and capacity building for teachers and students and aim to drive quality education and sustainable development,” Ekpo said.
The principal of Oniong West Secondary School, Ikot- Edor, Ruth Oke-Ojugo, which is one of the benefitting schools, said the furniture given to the school would be of immense value and will boost the morale of the teachers. “Our students who are inclined to sports will also benefit from the volleyball equipment given to the school as it will allow them to practice and thrive in the game,” Oke-Ojugo said.
Other schools that benefited from the largesse include Community Secondary School, Iko Town; Onna Peoples High School, Abat; Okoromita Comprehensive Secondary School, Okoroete; Government Primary School, Ikonta/Obianga; Government Primary School, Iwofa; Methodist Central School, Ete; Government Secondary School Ibotio- Ndon, among others.