LAGOS-The Bonny Kingdom of Nigeria is a remote island in the Niger Delta region, accessible only by air and water. A renowned community in the Niger-Delta which has held its peace even in the heights of insurgency in the region some years back.

Bonny plays host to several oil and gas companies and operations part of these includes the NLNG, Shell, Agip, Chevron and Exxonmobil. This is the important nature of the island of Bonny.

In an effort to give back to this peaceful community which has played host over the years to its operations, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, an affiliate of Exxonmobil embarked on a youth development program that is unprecedented in the kingdom. The Oil multinational in fulfilling its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR obligations worked with the Palace and the community leaders to send 41 indigenes of the ancient Bonny Kingdom to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria, Kaduna state.

This very laudable idea was initiated following the recent construction of a new airstrip in Finima area of Bonny and aimed at bringing the indigenes of the area up to the task of operating their own airstrip rather than outsiders coming to take over the available opportunities the new airstrip is sure to provide.

Not a few a few indigenes of the Bonny appears elated at the latest effort of the IOC a they were of the opinion that this sort of empowerment seems better than building structures that has no meaning to the youth population of the community in whose hands the future of the kingdom lies.

For Jeniffer Banigo Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), a subsidiary of ExxonMobil in Nigeria has touched the heart of its host community via direct intervention and should be emulated by other IOC’s in their various host communities.

Jennifer who spoke with Biztellers via a telephone interview after the training noted that the Company has sponsored forty-one indigenes of Bonny Island to study aviation courses at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, located in Kaduna State, in northern Nigeria.

“It all started with a call received from our different houses to inform us of the development and that the forms are available. I participated in the screening and was selected.

The training which held in Zaria centered on planning aviation as well as basic factors of the aviation sector.

We had 19 different courses and after this exposure I have decided to study advanced basic operation management.

But for Exxonmobil I would not have been able to participate in such training on my own due to the cost of such exercise, hence they have made it easier for me to chart my career path and I would like this medium to say a big thank you even as I do hope they will not just stop there but assist us in getting a place in the labour market so we don’t just flock the market without a way out.”

ExxonMobil affiliate MPN and its joint venture partner, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC also made it clear that that they are helping to develop the community through programs such as this, which aim to build capacity amongst the Bonny indigenes, and would equip the beneficiaries with skill sets necessary for them to access job opportunities such as the aviation services required at the Finima Airstrip – a new airstrip which was recently constructed in Bonny Island.

“This is a laudable part of MPN’s efforts to develop Human capacity within Bonny Island, a neighboring community near its areas of business.”

Another participant Ibifiri Omoni Benstowe who spoke with our correspondent stated that the community Chiefs informed her of the program as she was already an ICAO trained security personnel. She noted that the experience gathered through the training is second to none as she learnt clearly the very importance of time as all the trainers ensured time consciousness was of essence.

“I want to remain in the aviation sector and contribute my quota professionally. Thanks to Exxonmobil, they have rekindled my passion for the aviation sector and I am looking forward to working in the sector in the very near future”.

The forty-one trainees were selected through the combined efforts of the Center for Values in Leadership (CVL) group (a Nigerian Non-governmental organization), the Bonny Kingdom Development Committee and the Mobil Producing Nigeria Public and Government Affairs team. They will be trained in various aviation skills including standard piloting, apron control, telephony, cargo handling, advanced diploma in Aviation Management and aviation security.

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