Sunday Okobi
ExxonMobil affiliate, Mobil Producing Nigeria
Unlimited, operator of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation/Mobil
Producing Nigeria Joint Venture, has announced plans to invest N13 billion
(US$43 million) in three community health, economic empowerment and education
projects in Akwa Ibom State in the next 18 months.
These investments, according to the oil giant,
amount to one of the largest community investments by any company in Nigeria.
The three projects, ExxonMobil stated, included a
technical skills centre in Ikot Akata; a trauma centre at the University of Uyo
Teaching Hospital and an engineering complex at the University of Uyo.
Chairman and Managing Director of Mobil Producing
Nigeria, Paul McGrath, in a statement made available to Yellowstone Media on Sunday, said: “These investments will provide long-term health, education and economic
benefits to many in our communities.
“We continue
to work closely with the Akwa Ibom State government as part of our commitment
to communities where we operate and help to improve quality of life.”
The statement also noted that at a ceremony held at
Ikot Akata in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, the Group General Manager of
National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), represented by
Hilary Akpan, said the choice of the projects came after effective community
engagement and consultation for viable impact.
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Udom Emmanuel, who
did the official ground-breaking ceremony and inspected models of the proposed
community assistance projects, expressed his administrations readiness to
provide all necessary support and an enabling environment for successful
completion of the projects.
ExxonMobil stated that the technical skills centre
would consist of a three-block training complex for critical skills required in
oil and gas careers, such as pipeline fabrication, welding, electrical works,
chemical lab works, civil works and engineering design. The centre is expected
to train more than one hundred students annually, it stated.
The trauma centre, accordingly, which is to be
housed in a two-floor medical complex, will help reduce mortality rates in
major medical emergencies.
“The centre will include a resuscitation and burns
room; a theatre suite; helipad; ambulance bay and triage area; high dependency
and radiology units; mini labs; wards; pharmacy; administrative offices;
library; and doctor, call and seminar rooms.
“The engineering complex, which will be equipped with
generators and independent water supply, will feature two floors of workshops,
laboratories, a lecture theater, conference rooms and faculty offices. It is
expected to serve about 2,000 students, mostly from the state,” the statement
explained.
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