The Energy giant, Total Energies in collaboration with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has reiterated their commitment to provide social impact initiatives focused on youth development in the country.
This assertion was made at the graduation and close-out ceremony of Adolescent 360 TotalEnergies Health and Economic Empowerment Project (A-360 THEEP) on Thursday in Abeokuta.
The 35 teenage girls from Ado-Odo/Ota local government area of the state had undergone an intensive six months of training in catering and fashion design.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Total Energies, Mr. Mike Sangster said that the programme focused on identifying adolescent girls that had missed critical support in their developmental years and providing them with support.
Sangster, who was represented by Mrs. Adesua Adewole said that these supports were in the form of improved access to reproductive health awareness services and empowerment for economic survival.
He thanked the management and staff of TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, its senior partner, NNPC Limited, and other partners for making the programme successful.
“TotalEnergies is a responsible company that is committed to the health, socio-economic, and environmental sustainability of its host regions and people.
“We believe that helping young people learn, grow, and become financially independent is a necessity that contributes to securing the future. The global and local economic challenges over the years make this even more imperative.
“The A360 THEEP Project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #1- No Poverty, #2– Zero Hunger, #3 – Good Health and Wellbeing, #5- Gender Equality as well as Goal #8 – decent work and economic growth. TotalEnergies is committed to these goals,” Sangster said.
He disclosed that the first phase of the project which began in 2021 has mobilised and educated no fewer than 9,000 girls in 96 communities of Ogun, on life-changing health and social awareness lessons.
Sangster added that “in the second phase of the project which we are concluding today, 35 girls were selected for 6 months boarded intensive training on catering and fashion designing.
“Today’s graduation ceremony will mark a new phase for the beneficiaries as they will be gifted with starter packs to enable them to begin practising their trades immediately,” he said.
Sangster expressed confidence and optimism that the programme is a step in the right direction “as we continue in our commitment to addressing the challenges of unemployment and poverty in our society, particularly among women.
He thanked the senior partner, NNPC Limited, the other partners, and all the stakeholders who assisted in implementing the project just as he congratulated the graduating students.
Sangster urged them to make good use of the practical skills and knowledge they have gained
to build small scale businesses for themselves to grow the economy of their respective communities.
In his speech, Managing Director of Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr. Omokhudu Idogho expressed appreciation to the supporting partners of the project which according to him, began in April 2022.
Represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, Idogho said SFH strives to unify the private and public health sectors to scale an essential package of good quality health services to Nigerians.
He disclosed that during the one-year intervention, SFH was able to reach 12,499 adolescent girls with health messages just as 2,962 girls attended the Love, Life, and Health classes.
Idogho added that 889 adolescent girls were equipped with soft skills and 3,776 adolescent girls from the nine communities accessed youth-friendly health services but sadly, 274 girls were treated for Sexual Transmitted Infections.
“We use health system strengthening and market development approaches striving to unify the private and public health sector to scale an Essential Package of Health Services offering of good quality to all Nigerians.
“SFH is collaborating with all states of the federation, including Ogun State to achieve these laudable objectives.
He thanked the parents of the beneficiaries, the community leaders, and most importantly TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Ltd, NNPC, and other partners for their support in the implementation of the project.
In her remarks, the Wife of Ogun Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun thanked the support partners of the programme which she said would go a long way in mitigating the challenges faced by adolescent girls in Nigeria.
Represented by Mrs. Olufunke Oyeneye, Abiodun noted that girls are often subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, leading to trauma that could have lasting effects on their health and well-being.
She said that the initiative could not have come at a better time while commending the organisers just as she tasked other Nigerians and organisations to emulate them.
Some of the beneficiaries promised to use their starter packs judiciously just as they pledged to train other colleagues.
