Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) says it contributes an average of N1b to Nigeria’s Content Development annually.
The General Manager Policy, Government and Public Affairs of CNL, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, made the disclosure in his speech at a one-day capacity training for journalists in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council.
Mr Brikinn who spoke through the Manager of Communications for Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Business Unit, Mr Victor Anyaebudike, also disclosed that the international oil giant had attained 97 percent reduction of gas flaring in the country.
Brikinn said: “CNL seeks to make human investments that deliver long-term transformative returns. This is achieved through our Nigerian Content development activities.
“In Nigeria, Chevron supports Nigerian Content development by providing employment to Nigerians, and contract opportunities in all our projects up to an estimated annual average over $1 billion.
“We also contribute to the sustainable development of communities where we operate.
“Besides oil exploration and production, Chevron Nigeria Limited is the highest contributor of high-quality domestic gas in Nigeria since 2015.
“We are committed to lowering carbon emission and reducing gas flaring in Nigeria. Through investments in gathering and processing of associated gas, routine flaring has been reduced by over 97% in the past 10 years in CNL’s operations.”
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the capacity building programme, Mr Anyaebudike, said the training was meant to retool practicing journalist with emerging trends in order to make them remain relevant.
Anyaebudike said: “The reason why Chevron is sponsoring this media capacity building is because we know the value that the journalists bring to the society. Most of the things we do and hear is what comes out from the media.
“You say when you educate the journalists, you have educated society. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re making this investment.
“Actually, we want the skills of the journalists to be good. The world-view is that things are changing in society. So for you to really educate the people, you must be educated yourself.
“That’s what we are trying to do, to make sure that the journalists understand the real things going on in society and understand the changes that are happening.
“You know, quite a lot of revolution that is caused by social media, a lot of disruption that people are seeing because everybody have become suddenly journalists, right?
“So we want to separate the men from the boys. When we see the real journalists, we want to know them by what they have upstairs to offer and the new skills they have developed.
“So that’s why we are here, to help the journalists build those skills, that we transit them to the new generation of journalism.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT Council, Comrade Patrick Osadebamwen, in his remarks, said even though the training was long in coming, it was in fulfilment of the leadership’s desire to explore all opportunities for capacity training programmes to its members.
Osadebamwen said: “That hunger for true news sources has been one that has dominated the quest from the public on various platforms.
“This call, arises from the notoriety and penetration of fake news into the public space, the bigger brother, you would agree, to news distortion phenomenon misinformation, disinformation, mal-information and or propaganda.”
He added: “The topics for today cover: Benefits of Social Media and Internet Influence on Media Development; Understanding Cyber Laws and Safety of Journalists in Nigeria; Media in Developing Countries: Nigeria as Case Study.
“These topics and the resource persons, we believe, would boost our knowledge in navigating these information mines, as we carry out our tasks of daily reporting to inform on the Notable Events, Weather and Sports (NEWS) to the varied public who rely on us for verifiable news.”