The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has commenced the training of 500 teachers in Edo State as part of efforts to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the state.
The initiative was disclosed on Wednesday in Benin by the Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Chioma Afe, during the 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) onboarding workshop.
Afe, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Esther Icha, said the 2026 edition of the programme marked a significant expansion of the initiative.
She said STEP had, over the past six years, trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators across Edo, Delta and Imo states, adding that 500 teachers from Edo State would benefit from this year’s programme.
Afe said the Seplat JV was investing heavily in the initiative because education remained a critical component of the company’s contribution to nation-building, while teachers played a vital 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 continuous changes in education, including evolving curricula, technology and teaching methods, made it necessary for teachers to regularly update their skills and adapt to emerging trends.
“Education is changing daily,” she said. “This programme is to equip you with what you need to meet the changing trends,” she added.
According to her, STEP is designed to strengthen teachers in the classroom as well as support their personal and professional development by providing access to facilitators, learning resources and platforms that expose them to contemporary approaches to teaching.
Afe acknowledged the support of NEPL, the JV partner, for consistently backing the initiative, as well as the Edo State Government for facilitating the participation of schools and teachers.
She urged the participating teachers to make the most of the training and ensure that the knowledge acquired translated into improved learning outcomes for their students.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osa Osifo, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained contribution to education in the state and its long-standing partnership with the government.
Osifo, who recalled his previous experience working with Seplat during his earlier tenure in the Ministry of Education, expressed appreciation to the company for maintaining its 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 collaboration between the government and private sector in addressing challenges in the education sector.
Osifo noted that investments in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive to students, but stressed that infrastructure alone could not deliver meaningful educational outcomes.
“Whereas the form is good, but content is always better,” he said, emphasising the need to complement infrastructure with effective administration, quality teaching and strong educational content.
He recalled that during his earlier tenure, the state had sought to establish a stronger connection between investment in education and measurable results, noting that improvements in Edo’s performance in national examinations demonstrated the importance of effective management and teacher capacity-building.
Osifo urged the teachers participating in STEP to ensure that the knowledge gained from the programme translated into 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 encouraged the teachers to remain committed to the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and focus on helping students develop confidence in themselves and their abilities.
The commissioner also stressed the importance of character, conduct and moral responsibility in teaching, urging educators to recognise their 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 urged the teachers to pass positive values and experiences on to their students and approach their profession with an understanding that the future of society is closely linked to the quality of education provided to young people.
On her part, the Vice President, HR Operations, Seplat Energy Plc, Emo Udobong-Ntia, encouraged the participants to build a culture of influence, leadership and mentorship to enable them to establish stronger relationships with their students and positively impact their lives.
Udobong-Ntia, who presented a paper titled “The Case for Teacher Leadership”, examined the importance of teacher leadership and why it matters now more than ever.
The 2026 STEP programme builds on the Seplat Energy Joint Venture’s sustained investment in teacher capacity development and its broader commitment to supporting education in the communities and states where it operates.
