The Shell companies in Nigeria teamed up with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and other stakeholders to build Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres and a digital library in Nigerian universities in 2024.

Biztellers reports that it initiative is part of their continuing support for education.

Some of the corporate bodies that executed the projects include the Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) and NNPC Ltd, and the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB).

The benefiting institutions were, the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, which got a digital library in April, the Sa’adu Zungur University (formerly Bauchi State University), Gadau in Bauchi State, where an ICT Centre was commissioned in July, by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) as part of the Joint Venture with NNPC, TotalEnergies and NAOC.

ALSO READ: NNPC Ltd Targets 3,000 In Free Cancer Screening Initiative

In what would sound like singing-off on the educational intervention initiative for 2024, the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), overflew with joy at the unveil of a world-class engineering design studios and ICT hub, courtesy of the SPDC, NNPC Ltd and other Joint Venture partners collaborated with NCDMB.

Reflecting on the three facilities, Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, and Managing Director, SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, said, “This is Shell working to power lives in Nigeria. The projects have changed the academic and physical landscapes in the three universities and linked the students and lecturers to the global learning arena.”

The facilities at FUTO include two state-of-the-art engineering design studios and a fully furnished 100-seater ICT lecture hall, equipped with computers and smartboards with dedicated power and water supplies. FUTO was selected for the project as part of the “institutional strengthening” in the catchment area of SPDC’s Assa North Ohaji South Gas Development Project. They were launched at a colourful ceremony attended by representatives of the Imo State Government and principal officers of the university.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, said, “We deeply appreciate the efforts of our partners in NNPC, SPDC, Total Energies, and NAOC JV, who have invested in the future of Imo State by supporting this critical project. Your commitment to human capacity building aligns perfectly with our goals, and together, we will continue to drive innovation, skills development, and sustainable economic growth for our people.”

Okunbor’s address at the commissioning was read by General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, in which he expressed happiness “that the collaboration of SPDC, Joint venture partners, NCDMB, and FUTO has resulted in this successful social investment project that demonstrates our commitment to improving access to quality education for every Nigerian.”

On his part, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, called on Nigerian institutions to domesticate the advancements in AI and other technologies.

“Our AI must understand Igbo, Hausa, Efik, Yoruba, and other local languages,” he said, speaking through Dr. Ama Ikuru, the Director in charge of Capacity Building.

“We must leapfrog the innovations of other nations and become a net exporter of advanced technology to achieve the lofty ideals of Nigerian content development,” he added.

The Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti, said in his address which was read by the Senior Advisor Stakeholders Relations, Halimat Wilson, “Innovation thrives in an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged and developed. The Engineering Studio and ICT Hub is designed to be such a place where students, researchers, and faculty can collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and push the boundaries of what is possible.

Welcoming guests earlier, FUTO Vice Chancellor, Prof Nnenna Oti, thanked the sponsors of the project “for a landmark donation” to the university.

The Shell Companies in Nigeria have been education since the 1950s through scholarships and other initiatives. These efforts have resulted in the award of thousands of secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship awards, provision of educational infrastructure and establishment of sabbatical and internship programmes as well as centres of excellence in several universities.

To enhance its environmental sustainability initiatives in line with global best practices, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has embarked on a restoration project of planting 10,000 mangrove trees across coastal states in Nigeria.

Biztellers reports that the project would carried out in partnership with Eco-Restoration Foundation, started at Akodo-Ise, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, with the objective of minimising the global effects of climate change, by promoting restoration, conservation and protection of mangrove trees across Nigeria.

DIL’s Vice-President, Oil and Gas, Devakumar Edwin said, “one of the primary reasons of the Dangote Group is to ensure that Nigeria keeps providing employment and lifting the people out of poverty through sustainability projects.

ALSO READ: We Load 2,900 Trucks Daily, Evacuate Products By Sea – Dangote Refinery

“We are also committed to creating good climate scenarios where people can live long and their livelihoods cannot be taken away from them. Apart from absorbing more carbon from the atmosphere than other tree species, Mangrove Forests serve as vital buffers against coastal erosion, and are critical for preserving marine biodiversity and supporting millions of coastal dwellers whose livelihoods depend on healthy mangrove forests.”

After the flag-off of the tree planting exercise, the Group Chief HSSE and Sustainability, DIL, James Adenuga, expressed excitement at the importance of this partnership and its alignment with the organisation’s focus on the sustainable development of Nigeria and Africa, with long term carbon offset targets.

“Environmental sustainability is one of the seven Sustainability Pillars of the Dangote Group, and preservation of the environment is one of our core priorities wherever we operate. We are glad to embark on this project”, Adenuga pointed out.

On his part, a trustee of Eco-Restoration Foundation, Prince David Omaghomi, stated that the foundation “was more than thrilled to welcome Dangote Group as our largest corporate partner of the Eco-Park Mangrove Sanctuary & Research Centre to date.

He explained further that Nigeria has lost 60 per cent of the mangrove population, adding that Nigeria coastal line is at risk of going underwater in years to come if nothing is done.

“This project is meant to promote mangrove restoration, conservation, and protection. Nigeria has lost 60 per cent of its mangrove forests. More ocean acidification will be expected in Nigeria due to climate change and rising sea level. In the next 100 years, the coastal lines in Nigeria will be covered by water. The great blue wall will run across the coast of Nigeria by using mangroves.

“We are happy to receive the Dangote Group here and with their brand being blue they are the blue Big Brother of Africa. Their (Dangote’s) pledge to plant 10,000 mangroves in phases over the next few months, underscores their commitment to environmental stewardship and resilience building along Nigeria’s coasts.

“With their continued support, we are confident that this project will spark a wave of community-based restoration activities all along Nigeria’s coastline, in line with our persistent calls for the commencement of the ‘Great Blue Wall of Africa’ built of mangrove forests – as a natural defense against rising sea levels and climate change.

“Without immediate action, our multi-billion-dollar industrial complexes, Sea Ports, Oil & Gas facilities, Tourism and entire Blue Economy will be exposed to the relentless advance of ocean acidification in the coming decades,” he observed.

The tree planting exercise, which drew volunteer staff from Dangote Head Office, Falomo Ikoyi, Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, and other units, drew widespread commendation from the Onise of Akodo-Ise, Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan, senior officials of the Lagos State Government, and members of the Akodo-Ise community, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through the NNPC Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is set to launch a free cancer screening campaign to address Nigeria’s rising cancer cases.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi O. Soneye, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja, on Tuesday.

It was gathered that the campaign tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening” would provide, not just free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians, but also health education, workshops, and consultations with healthcare professionals aimed at empowering individuals to recognize early symptoms, adopt preventive measures, and drive home the importance of regular screenings.

ALSO READ: Local Content: Dangote Cement, Ibese Plant Enhances Local Business Operators’ Skills

The campaign which will be organised in collaboration with local health authorities and expert healthcare providers is targeted at reaching about 3,000 individuals across the six geo-political zones with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo, and Gombe. The initiative will focus on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, offering critical early detection support for at-risk populations.

Shedding more light on the objectives of the campaign, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said, “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.

“In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference. The NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.”

Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.

The campaign seeks to counter the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occur frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.

This initiative follows the success of a screening drive in February 2024, where over 200 Abuja residents received free breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings.

These free cancer screening campaigns reflect NNPC Ltd.’s broader mission to promote health equity and enhance the well-being of Nigerians across the country through its Foundation.