With Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups still bombing pipelines and other installations of oil companies, youths, especially students, in the crude oil and gas-rich region are now being motivated to use their pens and intellect, instead of guns, to fight.
The motivation is an initiative of Total Exploration and Production (E&P) Nigeria Limited, through its Port Harcourt District’s 2016 Book Reading, with the theme: “Knowledge is an Edge.”
Total E&P Nigeria Limited is an international oil and gas company, operating in many countries of the world, including Nigeria.
The oil giant’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives reflect the true vision of sustainable human capital development, through capacity building.
The CSR initiatives include skills-acquisition training and provision of starter packs for small-scale business enterprises, scholarship schemes, construction of classroom blocks in secondary schools and lecture theatres in higher institutions of learning, among others.
Most of the sustainable development initiatives of the oil giant are designed to achieve healthy growth, career future and development of students and youths in school and communities respectively in its areas of operation.
In all the programmes, the commitment of Total oil firm is that of full support for development and empowerment of human capital.
The introduction of the book reading event for secondary schools in Rivers state in 2011, marked another phase in the company’s commitment to human capital development, thereby helping the students to maintain the habit of reading, which is fast fading away.
At the 2016 book reading event, Animal Farm, an allegorical and dystopian novel by George Orwell, which was first published in England on August 17, 1945 was read, both by the students and the invited eminent personalities.
The elaborate event took place at Total’s Port Harcourt office complex at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Estate, with ten secondary schools in Rivers state invited and represented by their most brilliant students.
The invited schools are Community Secondary School, Amadi; Showers International School; Federal Government College, Rumuokoro; Dietams College; Trinitate International School, Eneka/Igwuruta Road and Oromenike Secondary School, Port Harcourt.
Others are Army Day School; Model Secondary School; International Secondary School of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and Government Girls Secondary School, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.
The event was also attended by the Rivers President of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Dr. Augusta Fubara, who doubles as the Southsouth President of the association.
A lecturer of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) in Port Harcourt, Dr. Justin Gabriel, was the moderator and he actually displayed brilliance, intellect and experience.
On the occasion, the Rivers state government maintained that there was the need for the youths, particularly the students, to fight with their pens, not guns and to always embrace dialogue.
Rivers Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kaniye Ebeku, who was the special guest, stated that emphasis must be placed on the use of intellect and not arms, in order to move forward.
Ebeku, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya, said: “We are lucky in Rivers State to have as Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, a lover of education and a former Minister of State for Education. Barr. Wike also carefully chose of Professor of Law, who earlier lectured overseas, as his Education Commissioner.
“The students and youths must develop positive thinking and positive attitude. Get knowledge and good information to broaden your horizon. Knowledge and God will give you confidence and boldness and you will be able to stand anywhere to speak. Also go for understanding.”
Rivers education commissioner also stated that Total oil firm had reawakened in the people, especially students, the importance of reading.
The role model/guest reader on the occasion, Prof. Juliana Okoh, who is the Director of the Institute of Arts and Culture of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), in her address stated that reading would help the readers, especially the students, to mature in mind and spirit.
Prof. Okoh said: “Reading culture in Nigeria is dead. Make reading a part of your life. Reading is very important. It is like breathing in air. If you do not read, your mental capacity will not be fully developed and will be dying.
“By reading extensively, you will have edge over others. Make yourselves alive through what you feed into yourselves, by reading.”
The UNIPORT’s don also admonished the youths, particularly students, to avoid distractions, by taking their studies seriously and reading all the time.
A literary icon and foremost writer, Capt. Elechi Amadi, who was represented by his wife, Preye, urged students to always make excellent use of their opportunities and to be disciplined, stressing that Total oil company was giving back to the society, through book reading.
Quite unfortunately, a few hours later, on the same June 29 that Total’s book reading event took place, Capt. Amadi, who hailed from Aluu in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers state, near UNIPORT, passed on at 82.
In his welcome address, Total’s Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District, Nicolas Brunet, stated that the book reading event had been one of the ways by which the oil giant had been promoting human capital development among youths in its operational areas and host communities.
Brunet, who was represented by Total’s Executive Director, Port Harcourt District, Victor Bandele, said: “Through the book reading event, we are encouraging young Nigerians to maintain the habit of reading books, because reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body.
“Knowledge is power. Through the book reading event, we have been able to let students meet with prominent Nigerians, who have achieved success in their various spheres of endeavour, as role models and to share their experiences. This is a way of keeping the students focused in life.”
The deputy managing director also urged the students to always take their studies seriously and to aspire to excel in life.
It is hoped that the partnership on the book reading event, involving Total, Rivers Ministry of Education and UNIPORT, in helping the students to maintain the habit of reading, as a way of life, will be sustained.
