As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Frontier Oil Limited in partnership with Savannah Energy PLC, with operational base in Eket and Esit Eket LGAs, have built to completion, furnished and handed over a Model Library to Saint Francis Secondary School, Okon, Eket LGA.

Others were Barr. Bassey Essien, former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Mrs. Esther Ekott Umo, Proprietor of Dominion International Schools, Hon. Michael Ama Ukpong, Supervisor for Education in Eket Local Government Council, who represented the Executive Chairman of Eket LGA, Engr. Pius Aladei, who represented the Zonal Director of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commissioning, amongst others.

In his opening remarks, the Operations Director of Frontier Oil Ltd., Mr. ‘Wole Adefila, who represented the Managements of Frontier Oil Ltd. and Savannah Energy PLC, expressed gratitude to God for making the day a reality. He thanked the Government of Akwa Ibom State, in particular, Eket and Esit Eket communities for providing an enabling environment as well as allowing the freedom to operate since the commencement of operations in the Uquo Marginal Field in 2005.
Mr. Adefila, further stated that, their focus from inception has been on human capacity building. According to him; “from inception, the focus of our CSR has been on human capacity building. 50% of funds in our MoU signed with the host communities and the state Government in 2016 are respectfully reserved for programs in support of informal and formal education, while most of the 40% reserved for the development of infrastructures are focused on educational infrastructure projects”.

The Operations Director went on to disclose that FOL and her joint venture partners had spent over N650M on community development projects/programs within the host communities and Akwa Ibom State since 2011 when the first Memorandum of Understanding with the host communities was signed. He enumerated some of the CSR projects/programs carried out between 2015 and 2022 in the host communities to include: construction of 5 classrooms and one office building for a Model Nursery and Primary school, Akpautong, Esit Eket LGA, construction of a 500 meter earth road with 2m x 2m single cell box culvert at Ikpa/Ekpene Obo Road, Ikpa Town, Esit Eket LGA, construction of a 6 classrooms block at QIC Primary School, Usung Inyang, Eket LGA, rehabilitation of a 6 classrooms block at Model Science College, Uqua Isi Edoho, Esit Eket LGA, presentation of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 scholarship/ educational grant to 336 post-secondary students of the host communities and Akwa Ibom State, amongst others.

He, therefore, charged the beneficiaries of the project to ensure its security and sustainability, as that will spur FOL-SAVE to continue in its drive towards the sustainable development of the host communities in particular and Akwa Ibom State in general.

In his remarks, Dr. Ukpong, the Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor commended FOL/Savannah Energy for their thoughtful contributions to the host communities, especially, in Okon-Eket for taking it up to build and furnish a Library at Saint Francis Secondary School. He enjoined the school authority to maintain the Library to standard even as he called on the company to do even more to ameliorate hardship in the host communities.

Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the state secondary education board, Barr, Asuquo Edem who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Education, commended FOL/Savannah Energy management for carrying out their CSR the way they should and appealed to the school management to make good use of the Library and secure it to avoid vandalization of any sort.

Mrs. Veronica Francis Okune, the Principal of Saint Francis Secondary School, in her address, thanked Frontier Oil Ltd. and Savannah Energy PLC for coming to the rescue of the school, with construction of the Model Library. She assured that students of the school will take their studies even more seriously with the development and appealed for construction of a perimeter fence for the school to prevent miscreants who sometimes infiltrate the school premises to vandalize and cart away school assets.

While commissioning the project, the paramount ruler of Eket LGA, HRM, Edidem E.C.D. Abia, commended the companies for implementing the dictates of the MoU they signed with host communities in 2021. He emphasized the need to take good care of the newly built study facility and assured that soon, all the secondary schools in Eket LGA will be fenced to prevent unauthorised infiltrations of villagers.

The project scope of work which was handled by Messrs. Ikott-Link Nig. Ltd. included: 2 nos. Staff offices, 4nos. toilets, 1no. Store for new books/arrivals in addition to furniture consisting, 3nos. office tables, 5nos. chairs for staff, 80nos. reading desks for students, 80nos. chairs for students, 20nos. bookshelves, 15nos. functional ceiling fans and lighting.

The handover ceremony which was held on 16th December, 2022, had in attendance some eminent sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State including the Paramount Ruler of Eket LGA, HRM. Edidem E.C.D. Abia, the Clan Head of Okon in Eket LGA, Ettebom Akpabio Ekpotun, the honorary special adviser to the Governor on health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong, and wife, Mrs. Nelly Ukpong, members of the Uquo field MoU implementation committee led by her chairman, Chief Etukudo Albert Etukudo, Permanent Secretary in AKS Secondary Education Board, Barr. Asuquo Edem who represented the honourable commissioner for Education, Engr. Emmanuel Inyang, Director of Petroleum Resources who represented the honourable Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development.

The Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr Gbenga Komolafe received the Managing Director/CEO, Frontier Oil Limited, Engr Dada Thomas with his team on a courtesy visit.

Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) has said investment opportunities in West Africa region will be in focus as key stakeholders in the gas sector converge at the international gas conference and exhibition next week in Abuja.

In those 15 years, the world energy situation has changed dramatically. We now have a situation where LNG prices have crashed globally.

The Nigerian gas sector outlook may remain bleak if lingering challenges, especially unfavourable regulatory framework and poor monetary policies are not addressed.