Chevron restates commitment towards supporting the media for enhancement of professionalism

The General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA of Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Mr. Olusoga Odueselu, has restated the company’s resolve to continually develop human capacity and support the media towards enhancement of professionalism.

Our Senior Roving Correspondent, reports that the CNL PGPA Boss, restated the commitment yesterday, Thursday September 12 at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun FUPRE in Delta State, when Chevron Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, organized a one-day media capacity building programme for journalists in Warri.

A cross section of some of the participants

The programme, had in attendance journalists from across different media organizations, including Fresh Angle International Newspaper.

Olusoga lauded the role of journalists in reporting the oil and gas industry and how they provide effective perspectives to the complexities of the industry operations.

Olusoga, who was represented by a Communication representative of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akinbola Saheed Praise, highlighted some of Chevron’s commitment to developing the media to include the following; “training of over 120 journalists in Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) in collaboration with the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.”

“Training of over 90 journalists from across the country in Lagos, Abuja and Delta for better performance in their duties, bringing the total to over 300 journalists, who have participated in the capacity building programmmes, he said.

He added that Chevron will continue to partner the media for the development of the society.

“Aside from supporting Nigerian content development by providing employment opportunities to Nigerians and offering contract opportunities in all their projects, CNL also supports the sustainable development of the communities in which they operate.

“Through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU), a community-led participatory partnership model, 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,” he explained.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman of NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Okies Okpomor, commended the partnership with Chevron, and emphasized the importance of adapting to the evolving media landscape.

Comrade Okies Okpomor

Okies noted: “We are living in a time that there are dynamics in everything, we have to learn new ropes in reporting, especially on issues pertaining to PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) and other relevant issues in the oil industry.”  

The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Prof. Akpoture Rim-Rukeh, lectured participants on “Environmental Degradation in the Niger Delta: Responsibilities of the Mass Media in the 21st century”.

He highlighted the roles of Mass media, to include, education, catalyst for environmental conservation, conveying of complex scientific information to the public as well as advocacy for policy reform and revolutionized environmental activism.

Another facilitator, Associate Prof. Majority OJ, Head of Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, trained journalists on “Repositioning the Media for Effective and Efficient Reportage of the IOCs and Host Communities.”

He noted the focus of the media for effective reporting to include: Comprehensive knowledge of the oil and gas sector, Knowledge of the Environment and Impact assessment, Stakeholder-engagement and community development and knowledge of Peace Journalism as well as conflict resolution.

Meanwhile, Dr. (Mrs.) F. O. Atubi of the Department of Social Science Education, Delta State University, DELSU, lectured the participants on “Host Communities: Social Responsibilities of the Mass Media in the post GMoU era.”

She pointed out the responsibilities of media in post GMoU as, Providing Credible Information on the GMoU , To Promote Transparency and Accountability, Facilitating Discussions and Provision of Education.

According to her, the responsibilities also entail providing Resolution to Conflicts and Building Peace, creating Environmental Impact Awareness, Empowering Civic Participation and Advocating for Sustainable Development (SD).

The highly interactive training, included questions and answers’ session. Participants were awarded certificates upon completion of the programme.

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