Chevron Holds One-Day Capacity Building For Lagos Journalists

Chevron Holds One-Day Capacity Building For Lagos Journalists

By Prince Benson Davies

Chevron Nigeria Limited has trained some journalists of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council.

The one-day capacity-building program, which was held at the Airport Hotel Ikeja, had as its theme “Driving Nigeria’s Business & Economy: The Media Perspective.”.

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, commended Chevron Nigeria for deeming it fit to train journalists for the second time in the last 8 months.

“It is a great pleasure and our deep gratitude that the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited has volunteered to sponsor this laudable training programme to widen our horizons in business and the nation’s economy for the second year.

This training is coming up at a very auspicious time when the nation’s economy and business climate are undergoing surgery and rejuvenation by the Federal Government.

“It has, therefore, become imperative to collate all shades of opinion and views on how to bring the Nigerian economy back on track.

“The Management of Chevron Nigeria Limited is no doubt passionate about the transformation of the nation’s economy and I am sure this is one of the reasons why this training programme is being organised.

“Experts are worried about petroleum product pricing, foreign exchange volatility, import and export regimes, the stock market, and the need for a realistic budget system.

“I wish all of us a fruitful training programme and deliberation,” Ajayi said.

In his remarks, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, ably represented by Mr. Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager Communications, Chevron Nigeria Limited.
lauded Journalists for their huge sacrifice.

“Chevron Nigeria Limited embarked on this partnership as we believe in the value derivable from developing human capital.

“The maiden edition of this program was held last year across three states of the nation: Lagos, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory. Over 90 journalists participated in the training, which was geared towards building the capacity of media practitioners to enhance their skills and abilities to perform their duties.

“As members of the fourth estate of the realm, your role as agenda-setters and opinion-makers cannot be over-emphasized.   I want to thank you for your impactful role in reporting the oil and gas industry and providing effective perspectives on complex industry operations.

“We will continue to partner with the media for the development of society. In this light, we also recognize the need for capacity-building among media practitioners to enhance their capacity to perform their duties.

“That is why CNL sponsors the Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme in collaboration with Pan Atlantic University, Lagos. Over 120 journalists have benefited from the programme since its inception in 2014,” Brikinn said.

According to him, through programmes such as AWARES, we help to improve professional capacity and build lasting partnerships with our media stakeholders.

“We are also partnering with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to organize capacity-building programmes that will involve an increasing number of journalists in Lagos, Asaba and Abuja before the end of this year.

“We also recognize that the success of the larger society invariably translates to success in our business, and we believe it is in our long-term interest to add value to society as we create value for our stakeholders.

“CNL seeks to make human investments that deliver long-term transformative returns. This is achieved through our Nigerian Content development activities.

“In Nigeria, Chevron supports Nigerian content development by employing Nigerians and contract opportunities in all our projects, up to an estimated annual average of over $1 billion,” the general manager said.

According to him, currently, we are transiting to the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) under the Petroleum Industry Act as we continue to focus on ensuring the development of our communities.

“Also, through Chevron’s Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), we are impacting hundreds of lives in the Niger Delta and supporting economic empowerment in the region.

“Besides oil exploration and production, Chevron Nigeria Limited is the highest contributor of high-quality domestic gas in Nigeria among the IOCs. We are committed to lowering carbon emission and reducing gas flaring in Nigeria,” Brikinn stated.

Journalists were exposed to topics such as Tapping the Potentials of Oil & Gas Sector of the Nigerian Economy, Maximising the Gains of Nigeria’s Blue Economy, and Maximising the Gains if
Nigeria’s Economy through Money & Capital Markets and Towards Nigeria’s Realistic Budget.

Maritime Lecturer Dr. Ademola Irinyemi unfolded untapped opportunities in the Blue Economy.

“With Nigeria’s blue economy potential, both traditional and emerging industries can lead to job creation, improved food security, tourism, infrastructure development, green energy, smart cities, and ports, ” Irinyemi said.

He said that Nigeria’s coastline was in danger due to human exploitative activities, coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and insecurity.

He called for structural reforms, infrastructure investment, human capital development, and the use of technology and innovation if we must get it right as a country.

Meanwhile, Mr. Emeka Ugwuanyi, CEO of Profagos Digital Limited, said the oil and gas sector was the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy.

According to him, Nigeria needs investments in its oil and gas sector by both foreign and local investors to maximise value from the sector.

Ugwuanyi commended Chevron Nigeria for having eliminated flaring from its operation.

He identified oil theft and pipeline vandalism, deficient infrastructure, policy and regulatory instability, and a lack of governance and transparency as some of the challenges bedevilling Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

On his part, Mr. Olusegun Aribike, FNGE, said for Nigeria to have a realistic budget, such a budget must be tied to certain projects that will bring about economic development, such as roads, schools, hospitals, and water, amongst others.

Aribike urged the government to be deliberate in putting the interests of the citizenry into consideration when planning a realistic budget and not embark on white elephant projects.

Mr. Blessing Anaro, Editor, Southern Operations, Blueprint Newspaper, explained that money and capital markets could help grow the economy, depending on government policies and sincerity.

“The government cannot continue to raise funds, either locally or internationally, for particular projects and spend the money recklessly on other things.

“We should also have policies that are investment-friendly,” Anaro said.

He noted that a nation’s economic situation was automatically a reflection of the value of its gross domestic product (GDP).

The Communications Officer of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Joy Emeghara, was also in attendance.