BAYELSA, OCTOBER 24, 2018 – The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has given 32 million naira start-up capital to 100 entrepreneurs in Bayelsa State following their completion a business management training sponsored by the firm.
Out of the beneficiaries, 40 were market women, 30 graduates and 30 secondary school leavers.
The Regional Community Health Manager, SPDC, Dr Akinwumi Fajola, said that the gesture tagged, ‘Ogbia Special LiveWIRE programme’ was designed for Ogbial Local Government Area of the state where it struck oil in commercial quantities at Oloibiri over 60 years ago.
Fajola, who was represented by the Clinical Surveillance Lead at SPDC, Mrs. Ufuoma Ovwigho, said that the oil firm spent $5m to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of Shell’s oil prospecting activities in Nigeria.
He said that the oil firm too note of the historic value of Oloibiri in the oil and gas exploration in Nigeria and decided to sponsor the Oloibiri Health Project to give back to the Ogbia communities.
He said: “As part the centenary commemoration of Shell’s oil prospecting activities in Nigeria, the Shell group in 2015 committed to a novel $5 million health project in Nigeria. This initiative gave birth to the OHP.
“OHP is a three year social investment initiative named after the Oloibiri community in Bayelsa.
“It aims to improve health and healthcare within the Ogbia LGA in a holistic way, beyond treating illnesses but including access to potable water, sanitation and education.
“OHP achieved upgrade and integrating health facilities, training and supporting local healthcare and community workers, ensuring a reliable supply of medicine.
“It also aims at improving social determinants of health by galvanizing economic activities through the LiveWIRE programme and building a knowledge/research centre in Ogbia. ”
He said the sponsorship of 100 people in Ogbia special livewire programme, an income generating intervention was one of the components of the OHP.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ms Patricia Nicholas, commended SPDC for the support with business management skills and start-up capital and urged the oil firm to extend the gesture to more beneficiaries.
In his remarks, the President, Ogbia Brotherhood, Chief Benson Agadaga, hailed SPDC for the support.
But he urged the beneficiaries to create more jobs to impact on the larger society.
He noted that Ogbia communities had enjoyed social amenities like roads in the past, saying that the company needs to step up its social support to its host communities.
“We appeal further to SPDC to deploy its expertise in power generation to the benefit of these and other people in Ogbia communities with electricity to help these and other businesses to thrive,” Agadaga said.
