Business
Project BLOOM Scales Up Impact with Second Outreach in Ajegunle, Lagos
The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health and Health Emergency Initiative (HEI), have expanded their flagship community nutrition intervention, Project BLOOM (Bringing Life to Our Overlooked Minors), to Ajegunle under Lagos State Health District V.
Biztellers reports that the outreach reached over 120 children with their mothers and caregivers.
It held at Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Secretariat in partnership with the Lagos State Health District V, builds on the success and measurable impact of the pilot held at Yaba’s Aiyetoro Primary Health Centre, where hundreds of children were screened and over 61% were found to need urgent medical intervention.
It was gathered that follow-up monitoring revealed that more than 48% of these children have shown remarkable nutritional recovery within weeks, regaining healthy weight and vitality. This progress has further strengthened the project’s mission to expand its reach across underserved communities.
At the Ajegunle outreach, children received Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTFs) and comprehensive health checks, while mothers and caregivers participated in practical nutrition education sessions focused on preparing low-cost, nutritious meals and maintaining proper hygiene.
Initial screening results revealed that 69 children were moderately malnourished, 29 were severely malnourished, and another 24 were at risk of becoming malnourished. The outreach also emphasized early detection of malnutrition and sustained follow-up care through local Primary Health Centres.
Notably, over 20 NGX Group employees volunteered alongside District health workers during the engagement, assisting with screenings, data collection, and caregiver training. Their participation reflects the Exchange’s commitment to fostering a culture of service and social responsibility among its workforce. Through initiatives like Project BLOOM, NGX Group continues to encourage employees to actively contribute to community development efforts, demonstrating that true sustainability is achieved through collective action and shared purpose. This approach reinforces the organisation’s broader commitment to building the long-term resilience of society and the economy.
On the impact, Group Managing Director/CEO of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, said: “Seeing 48.8% of the children identified with malnutrition now in recovery, and others who were once at risk steadily improving, has been truly inspiring. It affirms that our partnership with Health Emergency Initiative and Lagos State Government, is driving real, measurable change in our communities. For us at NGX Group, building strong capital markets goes hand in hand with building strong communities, because inclusive growth and social well-being are the true foundations of a resilient economy. This recovery rate motivates us to do even more, to scale up, to reach further, and to continue investing in the wellbeing of underserved communities.”
On his part, the Executive Director, HEI, Dr. Pascal Achunine, described the expansion as a vital response to the realities revealed by the pilot: “The first outreach showed us the depth of the malnutrition crisis and the power of swift, coordinated intervention. The results prove that when public and private sectors work together with urgency and compassion, we can save lives and restore hope.”
Similarly, Director Planning Research and Statistics, Dr Oladeinde Ebenezer Oluwaseun, representing the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, commended NGX Group and HEI for their “unwavering commitment to restoring hope to vulnerable families,” noting that the initiative aligns perfectly with the Lagos State Government’s ongoing nutrition and child health programmes.
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Project BLOOM continues to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through measurable community impact, employee-driven engagement, and multi-sector collaboration.
With two successful outreaches completed, NGX Group is set to scale Project BLOOM across other underserved Lagos communities, with a long-term vision to reach thousands of children and across the state.
The NNPC Limited has raised alarm over what it described as a growing wave of fraudulent claims suggesting that the company is selling refinery scrap materials and equipment to individuals and private entities.
In a public notice by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company categorically dismissed the claims as false, clarifying that it has not initiated or approved any process for the sale of scrap metals, refinery components, or equipment from any of its facilities.
According to the company, it has neither issued requests for bids, tenders, nor expressions of interest relating to such transactions, contrary to information being circulated in some quarters.
More troubling, the company revealed that certain individuals have been impersonating NNPC officials, falsely presenting themselves as authorised agents to facilitate the sale of so-called refinery scrap.
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“These individuals are not authorised by NNPC Limited and are attempting to mislead members of the public,” the statement noted, highlighting the sophistication of the fraudulent scheme.
The development raises concerns about the exploitation of public trust and the potential financial risks to unsuspecting individuals and businesses.
NNPC therefore urged stakeholders, corporate organisations, and the general public to exercise vigilance and avoid engaging in any transaction linked to such claims.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Limited is not conducting, nor has it authorised, any sale of refinery scrap or equipment,” the company reiterated.
It further emphasised that any legitimate disposal of assets would be carried out through transparent, regulated processes and communicated through its official platforms.
The company also encouraged the public to report suspected fraudsters to law enforcement agencies, as part of efforts to curb the spread of such criminal activities.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of Nigeria’s energy assets.
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has won the CSR Champion Award (Health) 2025 instituted by the Independent Newspapers.
Biztellers reports that the award was presented during the Silver Jubilee edition of the Independent Newspapers Awards, themed “Game Changers: Breaking Barriers and Shaping Tomorrow,” held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
The CSR Champion Award (Health) recognises the Foundation’s work in healthcare and its broader commitment to improving lives through social investment programmes spanning health, education, environment, and access to energy.Primary & Secondary Schooling (K-12)
The recognition follows a series of health initiatives delivered by the Foundation, including free cataract screening and surgeries that restored sight to over 6,000 Nigerians, including minors born blind; cancer and glaucoma interventions; medical outreaches to underserved communities; renovation and furnishing of three wards with 100 beds at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi; partnership and sponsorship of heart surgeries; and provision of dental health accessories to children in special schools, among others.
The NNPC Foundation noted that these results were made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose commitment has continued to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity to deliver social investments across the country.
Reacting to the award, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, described the recognition as a validation of the Foundation’s work and the trust placed in it by Nigerians. She noted that the award means so much to the company because it represents the confidence Nigerians have placed in its work and the value they see in purposeful social investment.
“It speaks to the resilience of the communities we serve, the dedication of our team, and the strength of partnerships that have enabled us to do meaningful work in health, education, environmental sustainability and access to energy,” she added.
In addition, Arukwe noted that “these results have also been made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose backing has been instrumental to the success of the Foundation’s work. We receive this award with gratitude, and with a renewed sense of responsibility to do more and reach further across the country.”
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte remains committed to advancing health interventions that improve outcomes and contribute to national development.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), through its Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division, in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonatrach, the Algerian National Oil Company, for cooperation in research, development, and innovation.
The agreement, signed by NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach’s Managing Director, Khodjah Mohamed, establishes a formal framework for joint work in research and technology exchange between the two national oil companies.
This was contained in the press statement issued on Thursday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer Mr. Andy Odeh.
According to the statement, the agreement, held during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, Nigeria, brought together research and development directors from APPO member countries.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by former Secretary General of APPO, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the forum was one of four measures introduced by APPO to address challenges from the global energy transition, which center on funding, technology, and markets.
“The R&D forum tackles technology and expertise needs, the African Energy Bank addresses funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System supports regional oil and gas market integration,” Lokpobiri stated.
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Earlier in his remarks, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Adedapo Segun, said research and development must form a central part of the overall strategy in the African oil and gas industry.
He called for research and development centres to function as engines of industrial competitiveness. “Collaboration in research and development is of strategic importance. The cost of innovation might be high, but the cost of obsolescence would be greater,” he stressed.
Ojulari called for a unified strategic framework through which resources could be pooled, data integrated, and risks shared across member countries.
He further urged the rapid adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced engineering to improve upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
On his part, the APPO Secretary General, Farid Ghezali, urged African petroleum-producing countries to ensure research in the oil and gas sector produced solutions that are practical and directly relevant to the continent. “We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, highlighted the value of the partnership between NNPC Limited and PTDF in supporting decarbonization and environmental protection efforts across APPO member countries.
Chief Innovation Officer of NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation and incoming Chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would give immediate priority to joint programs in the core areas of upstream optimization, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation processes, and industrial systems development.
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