Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and the Nigerian Navy has commissioned a public-private partnership funded hostel at the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Akpab-Uyo, Calabar as part of the company’s contribution to the development of education in Nigeria.

The 320 capacity boys hostel facility, which was taken over by NLNG for completion in 2015 at the cost of some N45 million, was commissioned by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, accompanied by Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command (FOC ENC), Rear Admiral J.O. Oluwole, and senior officers of the Nigerian Navy.

In his remarks at the commissioning, Vice Admiral Ibas said the leadership of the Nigerian Navy was delighted with NLNG’s intervention in helping to address the accommodation deficit in the school.

He said: “On behalf of the Nigerian Navy, our officers and the students, we thank NLNG for this kind gesture. I want to acknowledge that NLNG has been a great partner to the Nigerian Navy in ensuring the provision of security in the maritime sector. This gesture further strengthens that partnership because there is no way the Nigerian Navy and indeed the Federal Government can provide these infrastructures. Partners that care and think about Nigeria, especially our children, such as NLNG, deserve our commendation. The Nigerian Navy will continue to appreciate NLNG’s contributions towards capacity building in the nation and assures you that this building will be utilised to create positive impact on students of this school.”

In a brief address to the Chief of Naval Staff and senior officers of the Nigerian Navy, the General Manager, External Relations at NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said NLNG through this and other CSR initiatives across the country has consistently demonstrated its commitment towards the advancement of education, which is the bedrock of any sustainable development in the society.

“As part of NLNG’s vision of helping to build a better Nigeria, we have shown uncommon commitment to advancement of education at all levels, as well as infrastructure and manpower development in all strata of the society. This is why NLNG took up the responsibility of completing this Hostel Block at the cost of N45million; thus complementing the efforts of the Nigerian Navy.

“In keeping with our vision, we have continued to support CSR initiatives despite the huge financial downturn in the oil and gas industry. We therefore, urge the management and staff of NNSS Calabar to utilise this facility sustainably towards entrenching quality education and good morals characteristic of all military schools, to the students who are indeed the future of our great nation Nigeria,” he said.

He added that it was difficult putting a monetary value to NLNG’s contribution to education in the country, adding that the company has won accolades for its University Support Programme through which six universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country (University of Ibadan, South-West, University of Port-Harcourt, South-South, University of Nigeria Nsukka, South-East, University of Ilorin, North Central, University of Maiduguri, North-East and Ahmadu Bello University, North-West) were provided state-of-the-art engineering laboratories to support technical/engineering education at a total cost of more than two billion Naira. He added that four of the aforementioned laboratories have been commissioned while the remaining two would are expected be completed and commissioned before the end of 2016.

“In addition to this, NLNG has sustained a robust scholarship scheme that cuts across post-primary, tertiary and post graduate programmes. So far, a total of 2,833 undergraduates from various universities in Nigeria have benefited from the undergraduates scholarship scheme while 32 scholars have benefitted from the overseas post graduates scholarship scheme, 9 of which were awarded this year. NLNG also sponsors the Nigeria Prize for Science and The Nigeria Prize for Literature, dedicating $100,000 prize money respectively for winning entries of both prizes. These prizes are the most prestigious in Africa with the aim of developing science and the arts for sustainable development,” Eresia-Eke stated.