Total E&P Nigeria Limited in collaboration with Akwa Ibom state government is set to build a 170-capacity Skills Acquisition Centre at Atan Offot in Uyo local government area for women in the state.
On completion, the centre would provide the needed facility for the training of Akwa Ibom women in entrepreneurship and skills capacity.
Mr. Nicholas Terraz, the Managing Director of the company, said at the ground-breaking ceremony for the centre that his company intends to improve the earning capacity of women in its operation areas as a means of stimulating the local economies of host communities and the entire Niger Delta region.
Mr. Terraz, who was represented by Dr. Charles Ngeribara, the General Manager Corporate Social Responsibility of Total E&P Nigeria, said “This project is in line with our Corporate Social Responsibility policy thrust of touching lives in positive and sustainable manner in tandem with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: goals 1&2, 3&8, 5&11 and 17.”
In keeping with the company’s desire to spread happiness, create goodwill and enhance the well-being of its host communities, he stated that the company has invested in education, health care, human capital development and other economic development activities.
“This facility is designed to offer vocational training in fashion designing, catering and computer science as well as provide a training space for other skills to be determined by the management of the centre.”
The Total’s boss commended the Akwa Ibom state government for partnering the company by providing land for the project and the Ministry of Women Affairs for the support which has led to the successful ground-breaking ceremony.
“We are sure that with this continued support from all this stakeholders, we shall all gathered here before the end of the year for the bigger ceremony of commission and handing over”, he said.
Earlier, Dr. Glory Edet, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, noted that the project when completed would help create positive impact in the lives of women in the state, thereby making women either married or single to be self-sustaining.
“When the project is completed it will help our women to acquire different skills which will eventually reduce their poverty level. Let me assure you that you have made a good choice in coming to site this project in Akwa Ibom state,” Edet said.
(National Newstrack)
