• Over 2000 teachers trained so far under STEP

Nigeria’s leading indigenous independent energy company, Seplat Energy Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the quality of education through sustained investment in teacher development, announcing plans to train 500 teachers across Edo State under its 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).

The company said the latest intervention represents a significant expansion of its long-running education initiative, which over the past six years has trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators across Edo, Delta and Imo states.

Director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy, Chioma Afe, disclosed the company’s commitment in a presentation delivered on her behalf by the General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, Esther Icha, at the 2026 STEP onboarding workshop in Benin City, Edo State.

Afe said Seplat Energy was investing heavily in teacher development because education remains a critical component of its contribution to nation-building, with teachers playing a central role in shaping the future of the country.

“Seplat is very committed to education. It’s critical to nation building, and everybody that is here has contributed in one way or the other to the life of one student or one child,” she said.

She noted that the rapid changes taking place in the education sector, driven by evolving curricula, technology and teaching methods, make continuous professional development essential for teachers.

“Education is changing daily,” Afe said, adding that the programme was designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills required to respond effectively to emerging trends in education.

According to her, STEP goes beyond classroom instruction by supporting teachers’ personal and professional development through access to facilitators, learning resources and platforms exposing them to contemporary educational practices.

She urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity and translate the knowledge acquired during the training into improved learning outcomes for their students.

Afe also acknowledged the continued support of NEPL, the company’s joint-venture partner, as well as the Edo State Government for facilitating the participation of schools and teachers in the programme.

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osa Osifo, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained investment in education and its long-standing partnership with the state government.

Osifo, who recalled his previous working relationship with Seplat during his earlier tenure in the Ministry of Education, expressed appreciation for the company’s continued presence and commitment to Edo State.

“I am glad, and I thank you so much for not abandoning Edo State,” he said.

Describing Seplat as a “partner in progress,” the commissioner said the company’s sustained engagement demonstrated the importance of long-term partnerships between government and the private sector in addressing challenges confronting the education system.

He noted that previous investments in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive to students, but stressed that physical infrastructure alone could not guarantee quality education.

“Whereas the form is good, but content is always better,” Osifo said, stressing the need to combine infrastructure with effective administration, quality teaching and strong educational content.

The commissioner recalled efforts by the Edo State Government during his previous tenure to establish a stronger link between investments in education and measurable outcomes.

He said improvements recorded in the state’s performance in national examinations demonstrated the importance of effective management and teacher capacity development in improving educational content and outcomes—an area he said the STEP initiative was helping to strengthen.

Osifo challenged the 500 teachers participating in the programme to ensure that the investment in their professional development produces tangible improvements in their classrooms.

“After this investment in training, you are supposed to go back and manifest it. And we will measure it with the results that will proceed from you,” he said.

He urged the teachers to remain committed to the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and focus on building students’ confidence and capabilities.

Beyond academic instruction, Osifo emphasised the responsibility of teachers to serve as role models, stressing the importance of character, conduct and moral responsibility in shaping the next generation.

“See yourself and do to them (your students) what you would have loved a teacher to do to you,” he said.

He encouraged the educators to pass positive values and experiences to their students, noting that the future of society is closely linked to the quality of education provided to young people.

Also speaking at the event, Emo Udobong-Ntia, Vice President, HR Operations, Seplat Energy Plc, urged the participating teachers to cultivate a culture of influence, leadership and mentorship to strengthen their relationships with students and make a positive impact on their development.

Udobong-Ntia presented a paper titled “The Case for Teacher Leadership,” focusing on why teacher leadership has become increasingly important in contemporary education.

The 2026 STEP initiative builds on Seplat Energy Joint Venture’s sustained investment in teacher capacity development and forms part of the company’s broader social investment programme in communities and states where it operates.

Seplat Energy operates a portfolio of oil and gas assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, including 11 oil and gas blocks in onshore and shallow-water locations, alongside interests in export terminals and gas-processing infrastructure.

The company operates gas-processing facilities at Oben, Sapele and the 300 MMscfd ANOH Gas Processing Plant, with the facilities supporting its position as a major supplier of natural gas to Nigeria’s domestic power-generation market.

Through STEP, Seplat is positioning teacher development as a key component of its broader contribution to human-capital development, with the latest 500-teacher cohort expected to extend the programme’s impact across Edo State.