CSR: Chevron Donates First Hybrid Library to Ondo School
James Sowole In pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) a leading oil giant Chevron Nigeria Limited has donated an electronic library to Ilaje High School located at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State.
The library, built within three months in the 35 year old school, is the first ever in any government-owned secondary school in Ondo State. The project specifically built by Texaco Nigeria Outshelf (a Chevron Company Operators of OML 132 and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was equipped with 21 computers sets,, 25KVA generator, books, journals, modern conveniences, a bore hole and other facilities.
Chevron at the unveiling of the project witnessed by senior officials of the company, top officers from the Ministry of Education, Ondo State, said it is committed to ensuring improved standard of education in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Director Deepwater and Productive Sharing Contracts (PSC) Jeffry Ewing said Chevron believes that education is the key to national and societal development as it unlocks the potential of the people especially the youths and galvanises them for positive development.
Ewing, was represented an old student of the school and who is now the Manager Communication, Policy, Government, Public Affairs Department of Chevron, Mr. Adesola Adebawo. Adebawo was part of the 1985 set of the school, which was the second set.
The director said the company is committed to educational development as one of the thematic areas in the company’s social performance programmes.
Ewing pointed out that the company’s support for education in the country include scholarship schemes for secondary school and university students every year, development of new schools and teachers residence, provision of and equipment of educational facilities and upgrading of laboratories and research centres.
He advised both the students and teachers of the benefiting schools to put the facility into good use and ensure proper maintenance so that the investment on it would not become a waste. Also speaking the Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Jonathan Okehs said they are happy to collaborate with Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited and other stakeholders to sponsor projects that will lead to qualitative education.
Okehs who spoke through a supervisor Community Relations, Mrs. Helen Nkwo said “we know that education is not only an instrument of social change but an investment in national development. The library is borne out of deliberate efforts by the NNPC and Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited to intervene in human capital development; a critical sector of the company.
“We believe the effort will augment the Federal Government’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme and help provide the needed manpower for the development of the country.
The Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe said the unveiling of the hybrid library is very unique being the first of its kind in government schools in Ondo state. Adejuyigbe however lamented that one of the major challenges confronting education is inadequate modern library facilities which has negatively affected the performance of students output in various schools.
He urged development partners, philanthropists, corporate organisations, religious bodies, old students and other well-meaning individuals in the society to emulate the gesture of Chevron in development of the education sector.
Speaking through the Director of Planning and Research Jide Ogundolire, the Commissioner encouraged the students to use the facility to expand their body of knowledge.
The Managing Director of Abey Coast Nigeria Limited, Abiye Adeyemi said the project was completed within three months with zero per cent mobilisation to the company by Chevron.
The principal of the school Olawole Masagborinwon lauded the oil company for building the first ever hybrid library in the school. He appealed to the company to assist the school in building 12 blocks of classroom to take care of inadequate number of classrooms in the school.