Company partners communities, trains 261 youths

The Bonny, Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni and Eastern Obolo Host communities Development Trust with the acronym, BOPANE, has announced a training programme for 261 youths drawn from Akwa Ibom and Rivers State.

The chairman Board of Trustees of the BOPANE HCDT, Mr Pius Agba, stated this during the inauguration of the Trust Skills Acquisition programme held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Agba said the initiative is one of the flagship empowerment of the Trust supported by oil giant, TotalEnergies, pointing out that the beneficiaries would be trained in oil and gas related skills.

He listed some of the skills to include crane and forklift operations, industrial scaffolding, among others, which were selected based on current industry demands, economic realities and emerging opportunities in both the local and global economy.

Agba explained that the training reflects the Trust’s vision of not only distributing benefits, but also creating lasting impact through human capital development and community advancement, by raising a generation of skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and innovators for growth and prosperity of the communities

 He said, “Today is another bold step in our collective journey towards sustainable development, empowerment and economic transformation of our people. This initiative which will train 261 youths from Bony, Opobo/Nkoro in Rivers and Eastern Obolo in Akwa Ibom State, in various vocational and professional skills, is one of the flagship empowerment programmes of this Trust.

“The training areas include oil and gas related skills such as crane and fork-lifting operations, industrial scaffolding, industrial welding and pipe fitting, rope access, mobile crane operation and modern and Entrepreneurial skills like cyber security, data analysis and others

“We believe strongly that empowering our youths with practical and marketable skills is one of the most effective ways of reducing unemployment, poverty, youth restiveness and social vices within our communities.”

Representatives of the TotalEnergies, Mr Godspower Onu commended the initiative, saying it will shape the future generations of the rural communities

Onu stated, “Today’s occasion reminds us that true development is not only measured by infrastructure or investment, but by the lives touched and the future we are building. The young men and women selected for this programme today represent the strength, determination and resilience of these communities.”

While noting that communities thrive when people are empowered, hence the importance of the initiative, he said, “This is about creating opportunities that will uplift projects and generations. It is about giving young people the confidence to dream bigger and achieve more.”

In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Bony Kingdom, His Highness Dr Dagogo Brown, commended the Board of Trustees of the Trust for the initiative and called on other Trusts to emulate the vision of BOPANE HCDT.

On his part, the monarch Finima, Bonny Kingdom, HRH, Dr Dagogo Brown, commended TotalEnergies for their commitment in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act; saying the law has brought the oil companies and host communities closer.