The Board of Trustees of the Anyamina-Ama Host Communities Development Trust in Kula, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, has awarded contracts worth over ₦1.2 billion to promote education and youth development.
Chairman of the board, Chief Alapuye Eleki, made this known on Saturday during the official presentation of contracts to eight indigenous contractors in Kula. The contractors emerged victorious through a transparent bidding process.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is funded by the NNPC/Newcross Joint Venture, operators of the OML-24 oil field located in the Kula community. The development is part of the company’s fulfilment of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Eleki stated that the projects were designed to address infrastructural deficits in public schools and reduce youth unemployment in the area. He said the funds would cover the remodelling of existing public schools and the construction of a new Skills Development Centre, further demonstrating the company’s commitment to the welfare of the host community.
“The components of the contracts include the renovation and furnishing of the Community Secondary School, Kula; the renovation and furnishing of State Primary School, Kula; the construction of a state-of-the-art Skills Development Centre; and the construction of a Corps Members’ Lodge and Staff Quarters for the secondary school,” he explained.
He described the projects as a landmark collaboration with the operating oil companies since the enactment of the PIA, adding that the initiative sets a precedent worthy of replication.
In his remarks, Enya Ojiji, Operations Manager at Newcross Exploration and Production Company Limited, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the welfare of host communities. He urged project managers and community representatives to monitor the implementation process to ensure timely completion and adherence to quality standards.
Also speaking at the event, the Paramount Ruler of Kula Kingdom, King Kroma Eleki, commended the board and the oil companies for the stakeholder collaboration that led to the initiative. He praised the project choices, noting that they would enhance education and community well-being.
The monarch, however, cautioned contractors against abandoning the projects or misappropriating funds. He also appealed to youths and residents to safeguard critical national assets in the interest of peace and sustainable development.
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