NEPL/Seplat JV to train 500 Edo teachers under STEP programme

By Onu Okorie

NNPC Exploration and Production Limited NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the quality of education through sustained investment in teacher development, with plans to train 500 teachers across Edo State under the 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme STEP.
The commitment was disclosed on Thursday in Benin City during the onboarding workshop for the 2026 STEP programme.
Speaking at the event, the Director of External Affairs and Social Performance, Seplat Energy Plc, Mrs Chioma Afe, represented by the company’s General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, Esther Icha, said education remained central to the company’s contribution to national development.
The 2026 programme represents a major expansion of STEP, which has trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators across Edo, Delta and Imo states over the past six years.
Afe said teachers played a critical role in shaping the future of the country and must continually develop their skills to keep pace with changes in the education sector.
“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.
According to her, changes in curricula, technology and teaching methods have made continuous professional development necessary for teachers.
“Education is changing daily. This programme is to equip you with what you need to meet the changing trends,” she added.
She explained that STEP was designed to strengthen teachers in the classroom while also supporting their personal and professional development through access to facilitators, learning resources and platforms that expose participants to contemporary developments and approaches in education.
Afe also acknowledged the support of NEPL, the joint venture partner, for its continued backing of the initiative, as well as the Edo State Government for facilitating the participation of schools and teachers in the programme.
She urged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity and apply the knowledge gained to improve learning outcomes among their students.
Also speaking, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Mr Washington Osa Osifo, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained contribution to education and its long-standing partnership with the state government.
Osifo, who recalled working with Seplat during an earlier tenure in the Ministry of Education, expressed appreciation for the company’s continued 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 government and the private sector in addressing challenges in the education sector.
Reflecting on previous education reforms in the state, Osifo noted that investments in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive to students but stressed that infrastructure alone could not guarantee meaningful educational outcomes.
“Whereas the form is good, but content is always better,” he said, stressing the need to complement infrastructure with effective administration, quality teaching and strong educational content.
He said Edo State had previously sought to establish a stronger relationship between investment in education and measurable results, noting that improvements in the state’s performance in national examinations demonstrated the importance of effective management and teacher capacity development.
According to him, initiatives such as STEP would further strengthen teachers and improve the quality of education in the state.
Osifo urged the participating teachers to ensure that the training translates 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.
The commissioner also advised teachers to remain committed to the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and help students develop confidence in their abilities.
He emphasised the importance of character, conduct and moral responsibility in teaching, urging educators to recognise their role in shaping the next generation.
“See yourself and do to them what you would have loved a teacher to do to you,” he said.
In her presentation, the Vice President, HR Operations, Seplat Energy Plc, Mrs Emo Udobong-Ntia, encouraged participants to build a culture of influence, leadership and mentorship to enable them to connect more effectively with their students and make a positive impact.
Udobong-Ntia, who presented a paper titled “The Case for Teacher Leadership,” examined why teacher leadership matters now more than ever.
The 2026 STEP programme builds on the NEPL/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.