Chevron, Chemical Society Of Nigeria, Partner To Promote Chemistry In Delta Schools

Chevron Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Chemical Society of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, over the weekend splashed unspecified amount of money on students and Chemistry teachers of some secondary schools in Delta State to further encourage the teaching and learning of Chemistry among students in the State.

The event which marked the 2023 award presentation ceremony for the Awokoya Memorial Competition in Chemistry took place at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, and had in attendance Chemistry stakeholders comprising captains of industry, Government officials, parents, teachers and students drawn from all over the State.

Our correspondent gathered that the awards were named after late Professor Stephen Oluwole Awokoya (1913 to 1985), the first Nigerian graduate of Chemistry and foundation member of the Chemical Society of Nigeria who also served as its National President from 1976 to 1979.

Chairman & Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Rick Kennedy, in his goodwill message at the ceremony, noted that even though “since 1992 till date, the NNPCL/CNL Joint Venture is honoured to have been the sole sponsor of the Awokoya Memorial Chemistry Competition in Delta State, the 2023 event is particularly of great importance, as it demonstrates the support of the NNPCL/CNL Joint Venture, the Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN) and the Delta State Government to the Competition in Chemistry”.

Kennedy who spoke through Chevron’s Senior Government Affairs Advisor, Olujide Abimbola, expressed delight that “all the past awardees proceeded to further their studies in science-related disciplines at the University level, both locally and internationally, and they are excelling in their academics”.

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He spoke further, “We feel proud every time we gather to celebrate excellence in Chemistry through this award ceremony. We are able to recognize a few students during the award ceremonies but through the competition, hundreds of students are stimulated to take more interest in the subject.

“It is this remarkable achievement that motivates the NNPCL/CNL Joint Venture over the years to continue to invest and support quality education through provision of education infrastructure, sponsorship of manpower development programmes and provision of scholarships.

“Our corporate belief is that education remains a veritable tool for fostering self-worth, societal growth and sustainable development. Therefore, we make efforts to support this important component of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Nigerian National Policy on Education.

“We are also pleased that our contributions to education are helping to improve the ability of Nigeria to develop quality manpower in different fields including, but not limited to, the oil and gas industry”.

Also addressing the gathering, the Chairman, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Delta State Chapter, Koida Owate, expressed profound gratitude to Chevron Nigeria Limited for its kind gesture which, he noted, had noticeably boosted the morale of students and teachers of Chemistry in Delta State.

He said, “In this competition, Delta State came first and third positions in 2022, raising the bar of excellence upwards this year by clinching the first, second and third prizes respectively at the National competition”.

Owate affirmed that “the teaching and learning of Chemistry in Delta State have produced many good fruits and added more value to our students and teachers”.

He called on all the awardees and other students in the State to “embrace academic excellence as the growth of a nation” stressing that sustainable development can only be achieved through innovation, science and technology; and Chemistry is the foundation of them all”.

Highlight of the event was the formal presentation by the National Deputy President of the Chemical Society of Nigeria, Dr. Ebitimi Berezi, of the competition’s star prize throphy and cash awards, to Miss Osoyoghen Blessing Naomi, an SS-3 student of Challenge Academy, Udu, Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.