The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Seplat Energy Joint Venture have empowered 127 teachers and education evaluators with digital skills in Imo State.
The development was announced during the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in Owerri on Monday.
The programme trained teachers in STEAM-focused teaching techniques and approaches, alongside alternative income-generation skills designed to strengthen their professional development and improve their economic resilience.
Speaking at the ceremony, Seplat Energy’s Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Chioma Afe, represented by the General Manager, Corporate Social Investment, Esther Icha, said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to investing in education and equipping educators with skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
She said empowering teachers remains central to improving learning outcomes and building a sustainable future for Nigerian children.
The STEP initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of primary and secondary school teachers through modern pedagogical methods, particularly in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Beyond classroom teaching, participants were also trained in alternative income-generating skills to help them become more economically resilient and reduce their dependence solely on teaching salaries.
The Commissioner for Education (Primary and Secondary), Imo State, Prof. Benard Ikegwuoha, commended the NNPC-Seplat Energy Joint Venture for its continued support for education in the state.
Ikegwuoha said the training would have a lasting impact on the quality of education delivered in Imo schools.
He urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to improve their classroom practices and inspire their students.
The joint best-graduating teachers, Samuel Chijoke and Onuoha Success, thanked the organisers for the opportunity to participate in the programme.
They described the training as transformative and pledged to share the skills acquired with their colleagues and students to expand the impact of the initiative.
The graduation ceremony was attended by other stakeholders in the education sector, including the Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence, Imo State, Dr Henry Okafor.
Okafor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with private organisations to advance educational development in Imo State.
The Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme forms part of Seplat Energy’s broader corporate social investment strategy, which focuses on education, healthcare and community development in its areas of operation.
The company has previously implemented similar teacher training programmes in other states as part of efforts to improve educational standards and promote continuous professional development among educators.
The graduation of the first STEP cohort in Imo State marks a milestone in the partnership between the NNPC-Seplat Energy Joint Venture and the Imo State Government, with subsequent cohorts expected to further strengthen the capacity of the state’s teaching workforce.
