The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy joint venture has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening quality education through sustained investment in teacher development, as it prepares to train 500 teachers across Edo State.
This was recently revealed in Benin, Edo State, by Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance of Seplat Energy Plc, represented by Esther Icha, General Manager of Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance of Seplat Energy Plc, during the Seplat Teacher Empowerment Program (STEP) 2026 onboarding workshop.
The 2026 program foresees a significant expansion of STEP, which, in the last six years, has trained more than 2,000 teachers and educational evaluators in Edo, Delta and Imo states. In this cohort, 500 teachers from Edo State will benefit from the knowledge empowerment initiative.
Afe explained that Seplat JV is investing heavily in the program because education remains a critical part of Seplat Energy’s contribution to nation-building, noting that teachers play a vital role in shaping the country’s future.
“Seplat is very committed to education. It is fundamental to nation-building, and everyone here has contributed in one way or another to the life of a student or a child,” he said.
Afe explained that continuous changes in education, including curricula, technology and evolving teaching approaches, make it necessary for teachers to continually update their skills and adapt to emerging trends.
“Education changes daily,” he said. “This program aims to equip you with what you need to meet changing trends,” he added.
He noted that STEP is designed to empower teachers both in the classroom and in their personal and professional development, providing participants with access to facilitators, learning resources and platforms that expose them to advances in education and contemporary approaches to teaching.
Afe acknowledged the support of the JV partner, NEPL, for consistently backing the initiative, and the Edo State Government for facilitating the participation of schools and teachers in the programme.
He encouraged participants to make the most of the training and translate their learning into better outcomes for their students.
Speaking at the event, Washington Osa Osifo, Edo State Commissioner for Education, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained contribution to education in the state and its long-standing partnership with the government.
Recalling his previous experience working with Seplat during his previous tenure at the Ministry of Education, Osifo expressed his gratitude for the company’s continued commitment to Edo State.
“I am very happy and grateful that you have not abandoned Edo State,” he said.
Describing Seplat as a “partner in progress”, Osifo said the company’s sustained commitment demonstrated the value of long-term collaboration between government and the private sector to address challenges in the education sector.
Reflecting on the state’s previous education reforms, Osifo noted that investments in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive to students. However, he highlighted that physical infrastructure alone could not deliver meaningful educational outcomes.
“While the form is good, the content is always better,” he said, emphasizing the need to complement infrastructure with effective administration, quality teaching and strong educational content.
Osifo recalled that during his previous tenure, Edo State had sought to establish a stronger connection between investment in education and measurable results. He noted that improvements in the state’s performance in national examinations clearly demonstrate the importance of effective management and development of teaching capacities leading to quality content, which the JV helps with through the STEP initiative.
Addressing teachers participating in the STEP programme, Osifo urged them to ensure that the training translates into tangible improvements in their classrooms.
“After this investment in training, you are supposed to come back and express it. And we will measure it with the results that are obtained from you,” he said.
He encouraged teachers to remain committed to the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and focus on helping students develop confidence in themselves and their abilities. Osifo also emphasized the importance of character, conduct and moral responsibility in teaching, urging educators to recognize the responsibility they have in raising the next generation.
“Look at yourself and do to them (your students) what you would have liked a teacher to do to you,” he said.
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He encouraged teachers to transmit positive values and experiences to their students and to approach their work with the understanding that the future of society is closely related to the quality of education provided to today’s youth.
For her part, Emo Udobong-Ntia, Vice President of Human Resources Operations at Seplat Energy Plc, encouraged the participants to build a culture of influence, leadership and mentoring to help them bond with their students and impact them positively.
Udobong-Ntia presented a paper on “The Case for Teacher Leadership,” addressing “why teacher leadership is now more important than ever.”
The STEP 2026 program builds on Seplat Energy Joint Venture’s sustained investment in teacher capacity development and its broader commitment to supporting education in the communities and states where it operates.
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