Seplat Energy Plc, a prominent Nigerian independent energy company, has been honored with the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) Africa’s Education Intervention category for 2023. The announcement took place at the 17th edition of the SERAS Africa held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos.
The SERAS Africa is an annual initiative aimed at promoting and raising awareness about the vital roles organizations play, emphasizing their responsibility towards stakeholders and contributing to the social development of Africa. It underscores the benefits that socially responsible corporations stand to gain in terms of economic, social, and environmental capital, known as the triple bottom line.
Seplat Energy secured victory in the Education Intervention category, outshining competitors such as Julius Berger, Airtel, Dangote Sugar, Botswana Savings Bank, and TotalEnergies. The accolade acknowledged the impact of the Seplat Teachers Empowerment Programme (STEP) in the company’s host communities and states.
The organizers commended Seplat Energy’s educational programs for aligning with Sustainable Development Goals/Objectives 4 (SDG 4), ensuring access to education for vulnerable populations, reducing the number of ‘out-of-school’ children, and enhancing the quality of education.
The STEP initiative, launched in 2020, has empowered 905 teachers and 87 Chief Inspectors of Education with digital teaching skills, leadership training, and income diversification. It has also supported the learning of over 10,000 students with new teaching skills. Seplat Energy’s other educational CSR initiatives include Seplat Pearl’s Quiz, National Undergraduate Scholarship, and the Seplat Innovators Programme.
Seplat Pearl’s Quiz, initiated in 2012, has impacted 57,875 teachers and students through 11,575 participating schools. The Seplat National Undergraduate Scholarship, which began in 2014, has provided scholarships to 780 Federal and State University undergraduate students, with 34% from host communities. The Seplat Innovators Programme focuses on creating STEAM Laboratories, integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on experiences.
Ken Egbas, the founder of the SERAS Awards, praised the recognized companies and professionals, stating, “These companies and dedicated professionals have shown exemplary commitment and leadership in driving sustainability across the continent. At The SERAS, we recognize the fact that the future for any business lies in the ability to successfully bridge the divide between private enterprise and public interest.”
Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy Plc, expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the company’s comprehensive approach to educational interventions.
Afe said: “Our interventions in education cut across the entire education ecosystem. It is interesting that we are not just doing something for students alone, we are also intervening in schools by developing infrastructure and equipping the teachers. We are working with the relevant state ministries and with our partners to see how we can really impact every single part of that ecosystem.”
The ceremony brought together companies from various sectors across African economies, industry regulators, non-profit organizations, public sector players, media, and other stakeholders.
Members of the Seplat Energy team in attendance included Uche Anajemba, Esther Icha, Stanley Opara, Charles Ifediba, and Josephine Kola-Ajibade.
