Yemisi Izuora
For its dedicated support towards boosting the education sector in the country, the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE)/ African Child Foundation has honoured Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (Heritage Energy), Operator of the OML 30 Joint Venture between NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (SNRL) with the 2024 Best Education Support Oil & Gas Company of the year award.
The award was presented to the firm at FUPRE on Thursday July 4, “for actively supporting education through its OML 30 scholarships and Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme, SIWES.”
Highlighting Heritage Energy’s huge support for education over the years, it was disclosed that more than eleven thousand (11,000) scholarship payments of over six hundred and twenty million (N620,000,000) Naira have been made to host community scholars between 2019 and 2023.
Also, a total of 495 Nigerian university students have benefited from industrial training opportunities, receiving stipends over sixty-five million (NGN65,000,000) cumulatively for the same period.
This is a testament to the dedication of Heritage Energy to the well-being of its host communities.
The Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said the awardees were picked through a competitive and diligent nomination process.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Mrs. Doris Ogoleka, stated that the awardees, have made noticeable impacts in the society, hence the awards.
Rim-Rukeh stated: “This should be a wake-up call for the awardees to do more”, requesting that more FUPRE graduands, should be engaged by the company in the future.
The General Manager, Government, Joint Ventures and External Relations of HEOSL, Mr. Adesola Adebawo, while receiving the award on behalf of the company, commended the award governing council for finding Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited worthy of the recognition.
Adebawo said: “It is very gratifying for Heritage Energy to be recognized by FUPRE for the noble roles we have played both in the communities and in the educational institutions”.
He said “We as an organization appreciated this award and it is an endorsement of the quality of our leadership and the recognition of the caring heart our organization has”.
He added that Heritage Energy is always ready for collaboration with its host communities for development; pointing out that there is no development that can take place in a chaotic environment.
The epoch-making event, which was witnessed by principal officers and staff of FUPRE as well as the team from African Child Foundation, also witnessed the presentation of awards in different categories to Tantita Security, First Hydrocarbon (FHN), Librod Energy, Well Fluid Energy Services and International Energy Services, among others.
Adebawo, was accompanied to the event by Barrister Chisa Otokpa, General Manager, Legal and Company Secretary; Lon Mahan, Director Operations and Prince Jeremiah Oharisi, Head Community Relations.