By Mbafan Ade (BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT) –
French multinational integrated oil and gas company, TotalEnergies and partners have inaugurated projects in the states of Borno, Benue, Kaduna, Gombe, Delta and Anambra.
This is part part of TotalEnergies’ Batch 4 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, according to a statement issued on the company’s website on Sunday.
It said the projects ranged from fully equipped solar-powered science laboratory, water treatment plants to solar-powered ICT centre and a borehole.
The statement said that while the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko, Benue, received a fully equipped solar-powered science laboratory, Nawfia community in Anambra got two solar-powered borehole and a water treatment plant.
It said a fully equipped solar-powered ICT centre with mini theatre was handed over to the Federal College of Education, Kongo, Zaria, Kaduna State, and the Doma community in Gombe.
According to the statement, the Jere community in Borno also got a solar-powered women development and skills acquisition centre.
It said the centre consist of four training rooms, 15 desktop computers, 34 sewing machines, 400 sitting capacity auditorium, 15KVA generator, staff quarters, catering unit and other facilities.
Mike Sangster, Managing Director, TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said the partners included the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, China National Offshore Oil Corporation , Prime 130 and Sapetro.
He said the gesture was in furtherance of its CSR initiative to positively impact lives of its host communities in Nigeria.
According to him, the projects scattered across the country, were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and technical education, maternal and child health, access to clean water and women and youth empowerment.
He said: “The projects are in congruence with the related United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.
“The locations of these projects have also been very carefully chosen for maximum impact, coming from a need assessment carried out before the deployment.
“As already mentioned, the project we are commissioning today is one of the several projects being deployed across the entire country.
“Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we could not be physically present with you today.
“ However, we have adopted this efficient and effective remote commissioning strategy to ensure delivery of all completed projects.
“As we hand over the project to you today, we implore you to ensure its sustainable use to impact on the people positively.”
Mr Bala Wunti, Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), said the projects would mitigate the hardship faced by the locals especially women and children in the area In obtaining clean and portable water.
He said: “In NNPC, our vision for social intervention is to continue to operate in an ethical and sustainable manner and deal with the environment and social impacts occasioned by our activities.
“ We pride ourselves in our slogan `We touch your lives in many positive ways’, hence the approval for the deployment of various CSR projects by our operators across the country for maximum impact.”
“NNPC will continue to consistently champion the implementation of Sustainable Community Development projects that will positively impact the lives of the citizens of this country.”
On behalf of the partners, Mr Luc Vanson, General Manager, Prime 130, said the company was proud to be part of such laudable initiative especially because clean water is an essential commodity.
“On behalf of the partners, we are proud to identify with the project as we want to make sure that Nigerians have access to quality education, clean water, and international standard healthcare system).
(With a NAN report)