The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy Joint Venture is set to train 500 teachers in Edo State as part of an expanded rollout of its long-running teacher development programme, officials announced Thursday in Benin City.
The initiative, part of the 2026 Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP), was unveiled at an onboarding workshop attended by state education officials and company representatives.
Chioma Afe, Seplat’s Director of External Affairs & Social Performance, represented by Esther Icha, General Manager of Corporate Social Investment & Social Performance, said the company views education as central to nation-building and that this year’s cohort marks a significant scale-up of the programme.
Over the past six years, STEP has trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators across Edo, Delta and Imo States, with this round focused entirely on 500 Edo-based educators.
Afe noted that shifting curricula, new technologies and evolving teaching methods make continuous professional development essential, and said the programme aims to give participants access to facilitators, resources and exposure to current teaching approaches.
Edo State Commissioner for Education Washington Osa Osifo praised the company’s sustained partnership with the state government, recalling his own past dealings with Seplat during an earlier stint at the Ministry of Education.
He argued that while infrastructure investment had made schools more appealing, strong content and teaching quality matter just as much.
He pointed to gains in the state’s national exam performance as evidence that investment paired with better teacher capacity produces measurable results, and urged the trainees to apply what they learn directly in their classrooms and to uphold high standards of conduct and mentorship toward their students.
Emo Udobong-Ntia, Seplat’s Vice President of HR Operations, also addressed participants, presenting on the importance of teacher leadership and encouraging educators to build influence and mentorship into their relationships with students.
The programme reflects the JV’s ongoing investment in teacher development across the communities where it operates.
