By Emma Ogoigbe, Warri
General Manager (GM), Corporate Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Mr. Olusoga Oduselu, has reaffirmed that the company’s corporate social responsibility makes it committed to host communities’ development in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
”CNL seeks to make human investment that delivers 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 annual over $1 billion,” he said.
Oduselu disclosed these at a one-day media capacity-building programme for journalists,held at a Press Center donated by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (also known as Tompolo) in Warri, Delta State, South-South Nigeria.
The GM was represented by an official, Akintola Shaheed Praise.
Oduselu said human capital development remained central to the company’s operations.
He noted that since the inception of the annual media training, Chevron has trained about 400 journalists from across the country.
The 2025 edition, which began in Abuja and Lagos in July, continued this week in Warri in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel.
Oduselu commended the media for its vital role in shaping public opinion and fostering accountability in the oil and gas industry.
He assured that Chevron would continue to support capacity-building for journalists to strengthen professional standards.
Highlighting earlier interventions, he recalled the Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (AWARES) programme pioneered by Chevron in 2014 alongside Pan Atlantic University Lagos, where over 120 journalists benefitted from the skills competency initiative.
Such programmes, he noted, are designed to equip reporters with advanced skills while deepening long-term partnerships with media stakeholders.
On community development, Oduselu said Chevron has invested billions of naira through its Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model, which has delivered hundreds of projects across host communities since 2005.
He revealed that following the enactment of the PIA in 2021, the company has transitioned to the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) to sustain growth and engagement in its areas of operation.
Oduselu further pointed to the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), Chevron’s flagship social investment vehicle, which, he said, has empowered hundreds of lives through economic and social development programmes, as another in the firm’s long list of empowerment partnerships.
In response, members of the NUJ, through the Delta State Chairman and Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Chairman, Mr. Churchill Oyowe and Mr. Okies Veeky, respectively, thanked Chevron for the programme.
In separate speeches, they commended the firm for what they described as its media-friendly activities, urging it to continue the “good relationship” through collaboration to enable reporters have first-hand information about the company’s operations.
Such close information-sharing, they noted, would enable journalists report effectively about the organisation and its activities in the country.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Guest lecturer at the event, Dr (Mrs) Atobi of Delta State University (DELSU) presents an award to People&Politics Warri reporter and a participant, Emmanuel Ogoigbe, at the training.
