NEPL/Seplat JV Onboards 650 Teachers Across Edo, Delta for 2025 STEP Programme
The NEPL/Seplat Energy Joint Venture has onboarded 650 teachers and Chief Inspectors of Education (CIE) in Edo and Delta States as part of its 2025 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
This began with a two-day workshop in Benin City, with sessions expected to mark the transformative journey of teacher upskilling and professional development. Both Edo and Delta States have 325 participants each. The 650 participants were selected from over 4,666 applicants through an online process.
The onboarding workshop forms the critical foundation phase, where collaborative dynamics, programme orientation, and android tablets are introduced ahead of the four-month virtual training and mentorship programme, which leads to Microsoft certification. The Seplat JV provides participants with data throughout the duration of the training for seamless internet access.
Opening Session in Benin City
At the first leg of the workshop held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs & Social Performance at Seplat Energy, welcomed the new cohort, encouraged them to take the training seriously, and outlined the strategic significance of both training phases.
Presenting a paper titled ‘Communication for Change – Teachers as Agents of Change’, Afe shared her background and introduced the participants to the “7 Cs of communication”: clarity, conciseness, consideration, completeness, courtesy, concreteness, and correctness.
“A teacher is a professional who facilitates learning, guiding students to acquire knowledge, develop competencies, and grow intellectually and emotionally,” she stated. She urged the participants to embrace their roles as change agents and improve themselves for the benefit of students and society.
Remarks from the Edo State Government
Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Edo State Governor’s representative and Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, commended the Seplat JV for the initiative. He described the programme as world-class, likening it to lecture packages people travel to Dubai for.
He encouraged participants to complete the programme, stating: “In Edo State, we want to make sure that our teachers are packed with excellence, because the quality of the teachers impacts the quality of the students.”
The government will track programme completion by cross-referencing participant names with the Seplat JV. He added, “You play a very fundamental role in the lives of Nigerian students and the nation’s future.”
Governor Okpebholo also charged participants to be good role models to help curb moral decay and end the cycle of poverty in society. “Consciously commit to changing the lives of the students entrusted to you positively,” he said.
Leadership and Career Growth
Dr. Steve Ojeh, Director of Corporate Services at Seplat Energy Plc, presented a paper on ‘Leadership and Self Development’. He encouraged the participants to grow from within through determination, curiosity, and openness to new ideas.
“Be passionate, intentional, and ambitious in your career pursuits,” he told them.
Delta State Onboarding Session in Asaba
Following the Edo State onboarding (July 28–29), the Delta State edition was held between July 31 and August 1, 2025 at the Miriam Babangida Leisure Park on Anwai-Ugbolu Road in Asaba.
Reinforcing the JV’s commitment to sustainable educational impact, the Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu (represented by Ighavbota Winifred), praised the initiative and encouraged the participants to take the training seriously.
“We are very pleased to welcome the Seplat JV’s STEP initiative because we are looking at the long-term benefits for Delta State and Nigeria in general,” she said. “Many ills in society can be traced to the quality of education given to the current generation.”
About the STEP Programme
Launched in 2020, the STEP programme has empowered over 1,334 teachers and CIEs across Edo and Delta States through its unique combination of STEAM-focused training, capacity building, and long-term mentorship.
The programme structure includes:
- Intensive onboarding workshop
- Four-month virtual learning via mobile app and web platform
- Leadership development sessions
- Emotional intelligence training
- STEAM pedagogy modules
- Digital preparedness for 21st-century classrooms
- Collaborative project-based learning
Participants also design and implement school-based projects during the mentorship phase, applying what they’ve learned to real-world classroom challenges.
Driving Educational Transformation
By convening cohorts from both Edo and Delta States, the NEPL/Seplat JV continues to drive its long-term vision for educational transformation. With over 1,334 alumni already contributing to improved student outcomes, STEP has become a model for community-rooted, high-impact Corporate Social Investment (CSI) aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education.
The 2025 onboarding phase promises to extend this legacy by equipping a new generation of educators to become change agents in schools, communities, and Nigeria’s emerging knowledge economy.
