The NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL)/Seplat Energy Joint Venture is set to train 500 teachers in Edo State under the 2026 edition of its Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The latest cohort was announced in Benin City during the programme’s 2026 onboarding workshop, as the energy company and its joint-venture partner deepen their investment in teacher capacity and education development.
The programme is part of Seplat Energy’s broader social investment efforts in communities and states where it operates.
Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, represented by Esther Icha, General Manager, Corporate Social Investment and Social Performance, said education remains a major component of the company’s contribution to national development.
According to Afe, the changing nature of education means teachers must continually develop their skills to keep pace with new curricula, technology and teaching methods.
“Education is changing daily,” she said, adding that STEP is designed to give teachers the knowledge and resources needed to respond to those changes.
Seplat expands teacher development programme
The 2026 cohort represents a significant expansion of the STEP initiative, which has trained more than 2,000 teachers and education evaluators in Edo, Delta and Imo states over the last six years.
The programme provides participants with access to facilitators, learning resources and platforms aimed at improving both classroom teaching and teachers’ wider professional development.
Afe urged the participating teachers to apply the knowledge gained from the programme to improve learning outcomes among their students.
She also recognised the continued support of NEPL and the Edo State Government in making the programme possible.
Edo government wants training reflected in student results
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Washington Osa Osifo, described Seplat Energy as a long-standing partner in the state’s education development efforts.
Osifo said private-sector partnerships were important to sustaining progress in the education sector, particularly when investments were directed towards areas that directly affect learning outcomes.
He noted that although improvements in school infrastructure had helped make schools more attractive, better facilities alone were not enough to produce stronger educational outcomes.
The commissioner stressed the importance of quality teaching, effective administration and relevant educational content.
He challenged the 500 teachers to demonstrate the impact of the training when they return to their schools, saying the effectiveness of the investment would ultimately be reflected in students’ results.
Osifo also urged teachers to follow the state curriculum, avoid shortcuts and help students develop confidence while maintaining strong ethical and moral standards.
Seplat highlights teacher leadership
Emo Udobong-Ntia, Vice President, HR Operations at Seplat Energy, also addressed the participants, urging them to see themselves as leaders and mentors within their classrooms.
She delivered a presentation titled “The Case for Teacher Leadership,” which examined the growing importance of leadership among teachers and their influence on students.
The session formed part of the programme’s emphasis on developing teachers beyond conventional classroom instruction and encouraging them to become stronger mentors and positive influences on young people.
The 2026 STEP programme is expected to further Seplat Energy’s investment in teacher development while supporting efforts to improve the quality of education in Edo State and other communities within its areas of operation.
