Funmi Ogundare
19 September 2006
Lagos — Vision 2020, an initiative supported by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is set to expose Nigerian youths to a rewarding career in Oil and Gas sector globally, while empowering them to access opportunities relating to oil and gas through a road show tagged "Restoring Hope through Youth Empowerment"
Speaking at a media briefing recently, the initiator of the show and Principal Consultant of Lonadek Oil and Gas, Dr. Lola Amao said the target audience are youths with high intellectual capacity, especially in the area of Mathematics, Information Technology (I.T) and Geosciences.
She said the event is scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on September 28th, 2006 at the Obi Wali Cultural Centre. No fewer than 600 students from the Niger Delta are expected to participate in the programme, will also be sponsored by Addax Petroleum Development Company Limited.
She said every forward planning nation pays attention to its youth by ensuring it invests heavily to give the country a competitive advantage.
"We as a nation have in the past been complacent about issues that have far reaching implications to our development and wealth. It is for this reason that we decided to wake up the sleeping giant of Nigeria, our youths, on whom we must depend to make Nigerians the hub of oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Guinea," she said.
Amao observed that professionals and vocationals are required to bring their experience and expertise to bear in the transformation of the nation, while noting that the status quo of youth restiveness, within a poor value system was affecting the economy and posing a threat to national security.
She stressed that the Niger Delta must be preserved and its human resources developed for a better and more secure society. "The Niger Delta, which is the goose that lays our golden egg, must be preserved. What this country needs are a crop of hard working, committed, diligent and dedicated professionals who will provide a critical mass of forward looking and nation transforming citizens that can take the country to the next level."
Through partnering with other stakeholders in the Nigeria oil and Gas such as Texaco, NOAC, Exxon Mobil, Shell amongst others, the need to develop Nigerian youths will be addressed
The first vision 2020 oil and gas careers awareness was held last Mayat Muson
Centre, Lagos, where 270 students from 24 schools with two teachers were hosted to a one-day retreat of film shows on the history of oil and gas in Nigeria, power point presentations on exploration and deep water operations and the requisite character, attitudes that youths must possess to excel globally in oil and gas.
On how the 600 students are to be picked, she said "we intend to partner with a group in the Niger Delta that would educate the youths on peace and conflict resolution, we have also sent letters to NDDC, Chevron, Texaco amongst others to provide resources. The schools that are challenged should endeavour to get their students to the venue on time.
Executive Officer, Adax Petroleum Development Company Limited, Mr. Dele Ojeomogha commended Amao's effort in coming up with the initiative. He said "the coordinator was looking for something that would benefit the children. Many of our youths today only think of cutting corners and finding means f cheating. When you have somebody with a vision for the youths, it is a course, we all have to stand up ad support."
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