Why We Keep Training Journalists On Oil, Gas Reporting — Chevron

ASABA, DELTA STATE — Manager, Communications, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Dr. Anyaegbudike Victor, has stressed the critical role of journalists in shaping public perception and influencing developments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Representing the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Oduselu Olusoga, Anyaegbudike stated this at an ongoing one-day Oil and Gas Reporting Workshop in Asaba, organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, in partnership with Chevron Nigeria Limited.

He said the oil and gas industry was highly sensitive, complex and economically critical to Nigeria, stressing that journalists reporting the sector must have the capacity to analyse trends, advise government and engage stakeholders through objective, responsible and responsive reporting.

According to him, “what you say can make or mar the industry,” noting that developments in Nigeria’s energy sector could have implications beyond the country because the industry operates within a global market.

He explained that journalists serve as agenda setters who shape public opinion by informing people about developments in sectors they may not have direct access to.

Anyaegbudike said inaccurate or poorly contextualised reports about oil production, drilling programmes or other developments could create negative perceptions among investors and potentially affect companies’ share values and the wider market.

He noted that only well-equipped journalists could effectively engage government and industry stakeholders and report the sector accurately.

He disclosed that Chevron began its specialised training programme for journalists in 2014 in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, where more than 300 journalists were trained over several years.

He said the company subsequently decided to take the training to journalists in the areas where they practise, rather than limiting the programme to a central location.

According to him, the ongoing programme is being taken to different parts of the country, including Delta State, Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory.

Anyaegbudike said the initiative had trained 485 journalists in two years, describing the figure as significant in the company’s efforts to strengthen media capacity in reporting the energy sector.

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He said Chevron also recognised the important role journalists played as agenda setters, stressing that the media had a responsibility to provide the public with reliable information about the oil and gas industry.

The Chevron executive, who said he had a background in journalism before moving into the corporate sector, said his experience across different sectors had given him a broad understanding of Nigeria’s economy and the importance of specialised reporting.

He also highlighted Chevron’s partnership with communities in the Niger Delta, particularly through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model, which he said gave communities greater ownership of their development process.

According to him, under the GMoU model, communities determine their development priorities and prepare five-year development plans, while Chevron provides funding and engages non-governmental organisations to support and monitor implementation.

He said the principles underpinning the GMoU, including participation, transparency, accountability, sustainability and capacity building, were subsequently reflected in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

On Nigerian content development, Anyaegbudike said Chevron spends about $1 billion annually on developing Nigerian content, adding that the company had spent about $10 billion in the past decade.

He said the company’s activities had also contributed to the growth and capacity development of indigenous contractors in the Niger Delta.

Speaking on gas and energy transition, Anyaegbudike described gas as Nigeria’s primary transition fuel towards cleaner energy, saying Chevron was committed to increasing the utilisation of gas in the domestic market.

He said the company had undertaken gas gathering projects, including the Meji and Escravos projects, to reduce gas flaring and make more gas available for domestic consumption.

Anyaegbudike also said Chevron remained committed to oil exploration and production in Nigeria, stressing that the company was pursuing cleaner, safer and more reliable oil production.

He disclosed that the company was undertaking new exploration activities in the Niger Delta and was also partnering with other major oil companies on projects.

He reaffirmed Chevron’s commitment to Nigeria, saying the company remained active across onshore, shallow-water, offshore and deep-offshore operations.

“Right now, we are not going anywhere,” he said, stressing that Chevron’s continued presence in Nigeria was anchored on its partnerships with host communities and its long-term commitment to the country’s energy sector.