PeakNews Online
Lagos, Nigeria – Chevron Nigeria Limited has conducted a capacity-building workshop for 30 journalists from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council. The one-day training session, held at the Airport Hotel Ikeja, focused on “Driving Nigeria’s Business & Economy: The Media Perspective.”
Chairman of the NUJ Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, praised Chevron for sponsoring the training for the second time in eight months. “It is a great pleasure and our deep gratitude that Chevron Nigeria Limited has volunteered to sponsor this laudable training programme to widen our horizon of business and economy of the nation for the second year,” Ajayi said. He emphasized the timeliness of the training, given the current economic reforms by the Federal Government.
In his remarks, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs at Chevron Nigeria Limited, represented by Mr. Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager Communications at Chevron Nigeria Limited, lauded journalists for their significant contributions. “Chevron Nigeria Limited embarked on this partnership as we believe in the value derivable from developing human capital,” Brikinn stated. He highlighted Chevron’s ongoing commitment to supporting media capacity building through initiatives like the Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme, which has benefited over 120 journalists since 2014.
The training covered various topics, including “Tapping the Potentials of Oil & Gas Sector of the Nigerian Economy,” “Maximising the Gains of Nigeria’s Blue Economy,” “Nigeria’s Economy through Money & Capital Markets,” and “Towards Nigeria’s Realistic Budget.”
Maritime expert Dr. Ademola Irinyemi discussed the untapped opportunities in Nigeria’s blue economy, emphasizing the potential for job creation, improved food security, and infrastructure development. He warned of the dangers to Nigeria’s coastline from human activities, pollution, overfishing, and insecurity, calling for structural reforms, infrastructure investment, human capital development, and the use of technology and innovation.
Mr. Emeka Ugwuanyi, CEO of Profagus Digital LTD, described the oil and gas sector as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy and stressed the need for both foreign and local investments. He commended Chevron for its efforts in eliminating gas flaring but noted challenges such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, deficient infrastructure, policy and regulatory instability, and lack of governance and transparency.
Mr. Olusegun Aribike, FNGE, emphasized the importance of a realistic budget tied to specific projects that promote economic development, such as roads, schools, and hospitals. He urged the government to consider the interests of citizens and avoid white elephant projects.
Mr. Blessing Anaro, Editor Southern Operations at Blueprint Newspaper, highlighted the potential of money and capital markets to grow the economy, depending on government policies and sincerity. He criticized the reckless spending of funds raised for specific projects and called for investment-friendly policies.
The event underscored Chevron’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s media landscape and the broader economy, reinforcing the importance of responsible journalism in shaping the nation’s economic future. Joy Emeghara, Communications Officer at Chevron, was also in attendance.
