NIPCO commissions computer laboratory for pupils in Apapa public schools

NIPCO Plc, one of the foremost downstream operators in the nation’s oil and gas industry, has upscale its social investment in the education sector with the inauguration of modern  computer laboratory  for pupils in Lagos state public schools

The feat is part of the company’s broad CSR policy aimed at improving its intervention in the area of health, education and infrastructure upgrade in its host communities amongst others.

Under the policy, the company in consultation with the host communities undertakes to assist in identifying project and actions that would impact positively on the populace as well as adopting seamless ways of executing them.

Speaking at the inauguration of the lab, Managing Director, NIPCO, Mr Sanjay Teotia said in responding to the request Apapa populace   held further discussions with the Education authorities, local government officials  and came back with the following observations:

Pupils from the Local Government Education Authority comprising Apapa Local Government & Apapa Iganmu Local Council Development Area travel far and wide to get basic computer education to the extent that some had been involved in accidents in the process

The classroom set aside for the project is in poor state thus unsuitable to house computers and accessories

Requisite computers and accessories were not available to make for meaningful education in the area

Pupils of the school are facing great difficulty receiving any form of computer education with the teachers’ also helpless due to lack of requisite facilities

Mr Teotia listed the facilities and infrastructure upgrade embarked upon includes:

Refurbishment of one of the classroom in Apapa Nursery & Primary School – Screeding of walls, painting, electrical, flooring, provision of sliding windows, enhanced illumination of the centre etc

Provision of 12 Dell Desktop computers, printers, furniture’s and other ancillary facilities

Two HP air conditioners

7.6KVA generator to ensure constant electricity to power the gadgets in case of public power supply challenges.

The MD explained that part of the vision of the project is to make the centre a major hub of computer education in the area and serve as bond with the community as one of the company’s stakeholders.

Mr Sanjay said that a maintenance plan to ensure that all the facilities provided are serviceable all the time, personnel from the company’s IT department would undertake regular check on the computers.

The MD pleaded that the facilities be put to good use in the overall interest of steady growth in the education sector of the state economy.

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board [SUBEB] represented by Education Secretary Apapa, Alhaja Fausat Olawepo expressed appreciation to the management of NIPCO for all the consequential support for education in the state.

She said the numerous support of the company would definitely go a long way in improving the standard of education in the state aside from positioning NIPCO as a socially responsible organization conscious of impacting positively on its host communities.

A parent of one of the pupils, Mrs Uwazuruonye Chinyere said “NIPCO Plc is a good company which is committed to giving back to its host communities as we can see today, the company had fulfilled another promise by establishing a well furnished computer laboratory for the school “ .

Mrs Uwazuruonye who represented the school parent forum said she was astonished seeing the refurbished building and the computers donated by the company as well as other items provided to ensure hitch free operation of the center.

One of the pupils, Dansu Alexander noted the past efforts of the company in the past including sponsoring inter house sports, supplying of books and refurbishing of classrooms et cetera.

The Head Teacher of the school, Comrade Emmanuel Olayinka promised to ensure maximum use of the facilities in the overall interest of the pupils in the school as well as their counterparts in the LGA.

Picture caption:

L – R:  AGM, Corporate Affairs ,NIPCO PLC, Lawal Taofeek ;  Head Planning & Research, Apapa LGEA  Mrs  Agunloye Folashade; Head Teacher, Apapa Nursery & Primary School, Mr Olayinka Emmanuel; Education Secretary, Apapa  LGEA , Alhaja  Fausat Olawepo and Supervisor for Works / Infrastructure and Corporate Social Responsibility  Apapa LG , Hon. Benjamin Mokwunye  with pupils of the school during the inauguration of Computer Laboratory donated by the company in Lagos .