Education
NEPL/Seplat JV to train 500 Edo teachers under expanded empowerment programme – EnviroNews
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The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the quality of education through sustained investment in teacher development, with plans to train 500 teachers across Edo State under its 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The commitment was restated on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, during the onboarding workshop for the 2026 STEP programme.
Speaking at the event, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe, represented by the company’s General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, Esther Icha, said the initiative reflects the Joint Venture’s recognition of education as a critical driver of national development.
The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion of the STEP initiative, which has trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators across Edo, Delta and Imo states over the past six years. Under the latest cohort, 500 teachers from Edo State will benefit from the capacity-building programme.
Afe said Seplat Energy remains committed to supporting education because of the central role teachers play in shaping future generations.
“Seplat is very committed to education. It’s critical to nation building, and everybody that is here has contributed in one way or the other to the life of one student or one child,” she said.
She noted that rapid changes in education, including evolving curricula, technology and modern teaching methodologies, have made continuous professional development increasingly important for teachers.
“Education is changing daily. This programme is to equip you with what you need to meet the changing trends,” Afe said.
According to her, the STEP initiative is designed not only to improve classroom delivery but also to support the personal and professional development of teachers by connecting participants with facilitators, learning resources and platforms that expose them to contemporary developments in education.
She also acknowledged the support of the Joint Venture’s partner, NEPL, for its continued backing of the programme, as well as the Edo State Government for facilitating the participation of schools and teachers.
Afe urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity and ensure that the knowledge acquired translates into improved learning outcomes for students.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osa Osifo, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained investment in education and long-standing partnership with the state government.
Recalling his previous experience working with Seplat during an earlier tenure at the Ministry of Education, Osifo expressed appreciation for the company’s continued commitment to Edo State.
“I am glad, and I thank you so much for not abandoning Edo State,” he said.
Describing Seplat as a “partner in progress,” the commissioner said the company’s sustained engagement demonstrated the importance of long-term collaboration between government and the private sector in addressing challenges facing the education sector.
Osifo noted that while investments in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive to students, physical facilities alone could not guarantee quality educational outcomes.
“Whereas the form is good, but content is always better,” he said, stressing the need to complement infrastructure with effective administration, quality teaching and strong educational content.
He said Edo State’s previous education reforms had demonstrated the importance of linking investments with measurable outcomes, pointing to improvements in the state’s performance in national examinations as evidence of the impact of effective management and teacher capacity development.
According to him, initiatives such as STEP play an important role in strengthening the quality of teaching and improving educational outcomes.
Addressing the participating teachers, Osifo urged them to ensure that the investment in their training produces visible results in their classrooms.
“After this investment in training, you are supposed to go back and manifest it. And we will measure it with the results that will proceed from you,” he said.
The commissioner also urged teachers to remain committed to the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and focus on building the confidence and abilities of their students.
He emphasised the importance of character, conduct and moral responsibility in the teaching profession, reminding educators of their crucial role in shaping the next generation.
“See yourself and do to them what you would have loved a teacher to do to you,” he said.
Osifo encouraged teachers to pass on positive values and experiences to their students, noting that the future of society is closely tied to the quality of education provided to young people.
On her part, Vice President, HR Operations at Seplat Energy Plc, Emo Udobong-Ntia, called on the teachers to cultivate a culture of influence, leadership and mentorship to strengthen their relationships with students and deepen their positive impact.
Udobong-Ntia presented a paper titled, “The Case for Teacher Leadership,” where she explored why teacher leadership is more important now than ever.
The 2026 STEP programme builds on the NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture’s sustained investment in teacher capacity development and reflects its broader commitment to supporting quality education in its host communities and states of operation.