An Initiative for Children of the Niger Delta: an Effective Partnership Between a Local NGO and an International Oilfield Service Company

摘要

International companies operating in the Niger Deltarnexperience frequent disruptions of operations by restive hostrncommunity members. As tensions mount over the demand forrnresource control, host communities threaten investments in thernoil and gas sector. A partnership involving collaborations andrnassociations that are mutually beneficial to all stakeholders isrnthe only viable way of ensuring a sustainable future.rnThis paper addresses the issue of partnership from a practicalrnperspective of the local children. It focuses on a workingrnrelationship that started through employees’ initiatives andrnevolved over the years into a strong partnership between anrninternational oilfield service company and a localrnnongovernmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria.rnThis paper shares the experiences of this relationship through:rn1. voluntary participation and support of stakeholders inrnworkshops and seminarsrn2. a free Safety Training Outreach to increase safetyrnawareness and improve attitudes among workforce ofrnindigenous contractors and host communities reducernaccident rates by increasing. This will eventually translaternto reduced accident ratesrn3. Fifty for the Future Program—an intervention program tornenhance science education in the host community’srnsecondary schoolsrn4. an annual Oil & Gas Workshop/SciencernExhibition/Competition for secondary schoolsrn5. quarterly publication of the Young Scientist, a magazinernon science, environment and civic education distributedrnfree to secondary schoolsrn6. an Internet connectivity grant to the NGO to reachrnunderprivileged educational institutions with the Internet.rn7. This partnership has benefited local contractors, schoolrnchildren and teachers from more than 50 communityrnschools in the 6 oil-producing states and touched lives inrnthe remotest areas of the Niger Delta. It points the way forrnfuture initiatives. Interesting lessons can be learned fromrnhow the relationship evolved, as well as the variety ofrnprojects, impacts on the target audience and sustainabilityrnstrategies.