Sylvester Idowu in Warri
Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), operator of the joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), has urged journalists to contribute immensely to the development of Nigeria while maintaining the ethical principles that guide the noble profession.
The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Esimaje Brikinn, gave the charge on Wednesday during a one-day Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Media Capacity Building Programme sponsored by the NNPCL and CNL joint venture in Asaba, Delta State.
While appreciating journalists for the quality of work they do in generating the contents that not only inform, but also educate and enlighten the society, he reiterated their role in agenda-setting and opinion moulding.
Brikinn, who was represented by the Communications Manager, Victor Anyaegbudike, at the event, commended the NUJ for impacting the oil and gas industry in the country over the years.
“As members of the fourth estate of the realm, your role as agenda-setters and opinion molders cannot be over-emphasized. I want to thank you for your impactful role in reporting the oil and gas industry and providing effective perspectives to the complex industry operations.
“We continue to partner with the media for the development of society. In this light, we also recognize the need for capacity building of the media practitioners to enhance their capacity to perform their duties.
“That is why CNL sponsors the Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme in collaboration with the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos. Over 120 journalists have benefitted from the programme since its inception in 2014.
“Through programmes such as AWARES, we help to improve professional capacity and build lasting partnerships with our media stakeholders. We are also partnering with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to organize capacity building programmes that will involve an increasing number of journalists in Lagos, Asaba and Abuja before the end of this year,” he said.
Brikinn said the company recognized that the success of the larger society invariably translates to success in CNL business “and we believe it is in our long-term interest to add value to society as we create value for our stakeholders”.
“CNL seeks to make human investments that deliver long-term transformative returns. This is achieved through our Nigerian content development activities. In Nigeria, Chevron supports Nigerian content development by providing employment to Nigerians, and contract opportunities in all our projects up to an estimated annual average over $1 billion.
“We also contribute to the sustainable development of communities where we operate. The Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), a community-led participatory partnership model for community engagement and sustainable development, was pioneered by CNL in 2005.
“Since inception of the GMoU, CNL has contributed billions of naira to the Regional Development Committees (RDCs) that represent the communities in its area of operations to execute hundreds of projects in the communities through a governance model that ensures transparency and accountability.
“Currently, we are working with the relevant government and community stakeholders to transit to the Host Community Development Trusts under the Petroleum Industry Act.
“Also, through Chevron’s Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), we are impacting hundreds of lives in the Niger Delta and supporting economic empowerment in the region,” he said.
Brikinn noted that besides oil exploration and production, CNL is the highest contributor of high-quality domestic gas in Nigeria since 2015.
“We are committed to lowering carbon emission and reducing gas flaring in Nigeria. Through investments in gathering and processing of associated gas, routine flaring has been reduced by over 97% in the past 10 years in CNL’s operations.
“Chevron’s vision is to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance. We believe that energy is essential to modern life, and providing that energy is a profound responsibility. Our purpose is to develop affordable, reliable, ever-cleaner energy that enables human progress around the world.
“We are always open for dialogue and further discussions if you require clarifications on a story that directly affects our company or the oil and gas industry,” he noted.
The Chairman of NUJ in Delta State, Churchill Oyowe, thanked Chevron for sponsoring the workshop for the education of members on the activities in the oil and gas sector.
