Representative of the Deputy Managing Director, TEPNG, Mr. Francois Le-Cocq, the Community Relations Manager, Mr. Okechukwu Obara, speaking at the event
Dennis Udoma
No fewer than eight life-enhancing projects constructed by Total Exploration and Production were commissioned and handed over to benefiting communities in Akwa Ibom State last Friday by the company.
This is even as more of such projects are still under construction in other parts of the state, the Deputy Managing Director, TEPNG, Mr. Francois Le-Cocq has said.
Mr Francois Le-Cocq, while inaugurating the projects said, the event, which marked the official handing over of the projects to the benefiting communities in the state, was another significant milestone in the company’s relationship with its host communities and a continued partnership with Akwa Ibom state.
The Deputy Managing Director, who was represented at the handing over ceremony by the Community Relations Manager, Mr. Okechukwu Obara said, the projects were made possible due to the collaboration with all the community representatives and contractors, through diligence and hard work.
According to him, ‘‘the completion and handing over of these projects is in line with our commitment to fulfilling our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreements.
‘‘It is another pointer to our commitment to enduring sustainable educational, health and social development of our people. There is no doubt in our mind that, having thought through the projects and understood the basis for its nomination, you will not only take ownership of them, but will also guard them jealously and make judicious use of them according to the various purposes they are meant to serve for the benefit of the communities’’.
The projects constructed by Total E and P, and handed over to the various communities in Akwa Ibom State were; Six Classrooms Block at Ette in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, renovated Six Classrooms Block at Ikpa Ibom Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekong, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area and Six Classrooms Block at Lutheran High School, Ikot Udo Mbang, Ukanafun Local Government also.
Others are: Completed Civic Centre at Iboko Offot Community in Uyo Local Government Area, renovated five Classrooms Block, Community Primary School Ekpene Inuen in Ikono Local Government, completed Six Classrooms Block at Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono, Uyo LGA, completed Six Classrooms Block at Government Primary School, Nto Obo, Abak LGA and completed Community Health Centre at Ikot Ntuen Nsit, Nsit Atai Local Government Area.
Mr. Le-Cocq however, assured the benefiting communities and the people of the state, of their continued cooperation through their representatives in providing sustainable infrastructural support to enhance the quality of lives of the people.
He urged the traditional rulers and relevant government agencies to ensure effective utilization and maintenance of the facilities provided for them.
The Clan Head of Offot and the Village Head of Iboko Offot, HRH (Etebom) Sylvanus Okon and Eteidung Udeme Usanga in their separate speeches, praised Total E and P for the gesture and also thanked Prof. Chris Ekong for his invaluable contribution and sacrifice to the realization of the facility.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport and Petroleum Resources, Mr Oman Esin, represented by his Director of Petroleum, Mr Nseobong Edem thanked Total E and P for providing the various projects that are beneficial to the communities, and called on other oil multinationals operating in the state to take a cue from the company by alleviating their suffering through life-torching projects.
Guests at the ceremony were the representative of the wife of the State Governor, Martha Emmanuel and Commissioners for Health and Education among others.
