WARRI – Chevron Corporation has said that, it remanis resolute in its commitment to the development of education, health care delivery and economic development in its areas of operation and beyond through partnership, which it said, is the heart of its social investment initiatives.
The corporation reiterated this commitment during the handover of The Chevron – Discovery Learning Alliance (DLA) Learning Center Initiative, in Warri.
The Chevron interactive learning programme, brainchild of a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) for children, which started five years ago, in collaboration with the Lagos State Government through its Ministry of Education, saw
a total of 10 public schools, 13, 128 pupils and 789 teachers in Delta State benefitting from this maiden edition in State.
According to the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs ( PGPA ), Mr. Esimaje Brikinn who was represented by Happy Apai, Senior Government Affairs Advisor, PGPA of Chevron,
“Chevron has an unwavering commitment to the development of education, health delivery and economic development in its areas of operation and beyond. ”
“Over the years, our programs have focused on building human and institutional capacity in addition to the infrastructural development which we have sponsored directly and through the Global Memorandum of Understanding ( GMoU ) with commitment around our operational areas..”
“In keeping with our values, for this programme, Chevron Corporation has partnered with DLA to enhance the level of education in our schools. Patnership is at the heart of our Social Initiatives.
Through our partnerships, experts leverage on our own and our patners’ expertise, skills, technical knowledge and financial resources to add value to the lives of the people in the communities around which we operate. ”
Speaking further, Brikinn said the goal of of the project is to improve educational opportunities for children and communities through school based Learning Centres as well as improving students learning and motivation, increase of Teachers’ effectiveness and increase of parent/community involvement in schools.
For the effective running of the programme, ten(10) schools were each provided with two (2) television sets and DVD players each. One for the teachers to preview contents and plan lessons, and the other for classroom use. Numerous Teachers – training workshops have been carried out, giving teachers a comprehensive introduction on the use of educational videos in the classroom.
The benefiting schools were ,Agbeje Primary School, Edjeba Primary School, Cavegina Primary School, Ojojo Primary School, Ogunu Primary School, Ewein Primary School, Evwreke Primary School, Egharegbemi Primary School, Ekpan Primary School and Mowoe Primary School.
Brikinn, while thanking the State Government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondarry Education , and their implementing patners for providing the enabling environment for the programme to succeed, he charged the benefiting schools and stakeholders in the communities where the programme is operated, to guide as well as protect the educational videos, DVD players, television sets and generators that make the learning centres unique.
Mr. Okpala Ekenne , Chief Inspector of Education, Warri South Local Government Area and representative of the Delta State Commissioner for Education, Barr. Chinedu Ebie commended Chevron for their continous educational support projects in the State and appealed to the company to extend the DLA Initiative to all schools in Delta State.
Dr. (Mrs.) Felicia Moh, Project Director, Southern Nigeria Interactive Learning Programme, of DLA, explained that ILP is an improved learning approach to show pupils practical learning patterns, as the children are taught high self esteem and confidence while doing presentations wherever they find themselves.
While commending Chevron for sponsoring the programme, Dr. (Mrs.)Moh solicited for sponsorship in order to extend the initiative to other parts of the country.
High point of the ceremony, was the presentation award of plaques to the representatives of the benefiting schools.
Chief Inspectors of Education (CI.E) in the Local Government Areas the of benefiting schools, head teachers, teachers and some Community leaders were all in attendance.
