By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Chevron Nigeria Limited General Manager, Policy, Government, and Public Affairs, CNL, Olusoga Oduselu has disclosed that the company has renewed its commitment in local media development in its operational locations.
Mr.Olusoga said during the one-day Media Capacity Training for journalists in the Warri Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Effurun in Uvwie, Delta State.
He highlighted Chevron’s various initiatives aimed at enhancing the professional capacity of journalists, including the Advance Writing and Reporting Skills program in collaboration with Pan Atlantic University, which has benefited over 120 journalists since its inception in 2014.
He noted that the firm is committed to making investments that will deliver transformative returns, especially in its areas of operations.
Olusoga also stressed that Chevron’s vision is to be a global energy company that is most desired for its people, partnership, and performance, and that providing energy is essential to modern life.
He said that the company is committed to developing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy to enable human progress worldwide.
“We also contribute to the sustainable development of communities where we operate. The Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), a community-led participatory partnership model for community engagement and sustainable development was pioneered by CNL in 2005. Since inception of the GMoU, CNL has contributed billions of Naira to the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) that represent the communities in its area of operations to execute hundreds of projects in the communities through a governance model that ensures transparency and accountability.
“Currently,we are working with relevant government and community stakeholders to transit to the Host Community Development Trusts under the Petroleum Industry Act. Also, through Chevron’s Foundation and Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), we are impacting hundreds of lives in the Niger Delta and supporting economic empowerment in the region,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of NUJ Warri Correspondent Chapel, Mr. Victor Okpomor, thanked Chevron Nigeria Limited for sponsoring the training, noting that knowledge gained from the workshop would help in quality reportage of the oil and gas in the region.
Okpomor assured that media practitioners in the region will continue to collaborate with IOCs, particularly Chevron, in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The event featured lectures from notable speakers, including Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, who emphasized the crucial role of the media in educating the public about environmental degradation and its associated health hazards.
Other speakers included Dr. Majority Oji and Dr. Mrs. Favour Atubi, who discussed the importance of balanced reporting and the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), respectively.
They also charged journalists to be objective in their reportage to deepen the development of oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
The program concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants, reinforcing Chevron’s commitment to building lasting partnerships with media stakeholders and contributing to the sustainable development of Nigerian communities.
