The week-long 40th Starzs Investments Company Ltd. anniversary activities continued on Monday with the Managing Director, Iroghama Ogbeifun formally flagging off a Special Skills Acquisition and Maritime Education programme, beginning with scholarship to 40 beneficiaries.
The SICL Boss officially announced in Port Harcourt, that the beneficiaries of the scheme must cut across both the males and females gender from the four host communities, because her organisation is gender- sensitive.
Four out of the 40 slots are granted to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN Oron, and the Chakin Maritime School, two tertiary maritime institution, two slots each; while the remaining 36 slots would provide relevant vocational, training.
“We must see our nation advance, with a mindset that every aspect of the society is represented,” Iroghama stressed, adding that if the representatives of the communities could not come up with qualified girl-child in mind, she would personally go the extra mile to ensure it happens.
“If you are picking a pool of 40 people, and you are not able to find 2, 3, 4, 10, 15 females, then we have done an injustice. We have done such an abomination”, she pointed out, highlighting that the organization is trying to give back to the society, a replica of what the Chairman and founder, Engr. Greg Utonwem Ogbeifun enjoyed, and ultimately changed his life for good.
“Our chairman is a product of such programs. He was trained by Shell on scholarship,” Iroghama Ogbeifun said.
Speaking on the theme: Transforming Lives, 40 Years On, the Managing Director said the initial idea of providing leverages and privileges to top class cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, had failed to factor-in, the youths of their hosts community, hence the need for the additional measures.
The courses and skills, which are Electrical Instrumentation, Welding and Fabrication, and HVAC, which is Air Conditioning and Systems were deliberately chosen to ensure that beneficiaries would not only become highly marketable, but in fact, a sought- after.
“So we’re going to be training 40 people in these three areas of specialization. These 40 people will be drawn from the four communities,” the CEO said, launching it in the presence of the institution that will be carrying out their training.
“It’s my pleasure to officially announce the award for the commencement of training. And this award will take effect immediately, once all the necessary processes are in place.
She explained that even the choice of the skills for acquisition were deliberately made to ensure that beneficiaries would not remain the same again, either by being able to further run in their career paths, or become somebody commercially, and relevantly desired, immediately.
She recalled that a similar skill / course actually enable the Chairman the opportunity to chart a career path, even before he actually became an engineer, and then went on to work internationally before he became an engineer, over 40 years ago.
“So for me, I’m very proud to start with human capacity development. And this is the first time that I’m really doing a strong skills acquisition. It’s actually like a pilot course.
She thanked a key partner, the Managing Director of Diopter Technologies, Emmanuel Ugwumba, for anchoring such mutually beneficial skills acquisition scheme, following his background story on the core benefits of a functional organisation’s assistance to their host communities, in terms of human capacity development.
“I am definitely looking at a long-term partnership, between my organization and his organization. I also want to speak again about why we chose those three areas. You know, I’ve been in the industry for more than 10 years.
“And I see lots of companies do skills acquisition. And it’s almost like a box-ticking exercise. Just so that the community will see it. It doesn’t mean that if you train some people, it should be all about gathering people for one random training, without any reasonable thinking.
“The question should be, when you finish the training, or acquiring the skills, then what next? To my team, I said today, we must look at our main points. And as operators within the industry. I can tell you, based on feedbacks, where the gaps are in the industry!
“I’m just giving you an example. So that if you have chosen to do the training, you will also keep that in mind. That there is a potential opportunity.
“The intention is, after the training, you will tell us some sort of the start-up plan, including if beneficiaries would have starter packs or tools that they will need”, the MD said, highlighting that whatever would be required, to guarantee high productivity or self-reliance for beneficiary, after training would be considered
The company said it had done it’s survey, to identify areas that are very specialized, and where there are not so many people in business, areas where few people possessed the requisite skills.
The company obviously intends to assists it’s host Communities, based on insider knowledge of those operating ships, rigs and other movable and immovable assets.
Speaking earlier, the head of Human Resources, Tari Agiobu, explained that the day’s celebration was a mark of SICL’s enduring partnership with the host communities and other stakeholders, including the maritime institutions.
“We’re going to be equipping members of our host communities with skills that we believe will empower them and subsequently empower their communities down the line”, Tari Agiobu said.
Meanwhile, the host communities have poured encomiums on the Investments Company, as they expressed their commitment to nurturing the Management’s goodwill, stressing that it stands to enduringly rewrite the story of their people, positively.
Mr. Bright Ngolo, the Onne CDC Secretary who represented the CDC Chairman and Andrew Jiala the crown prince of Onne community representing the Royal palace and the community, applauded the SICL’s good intention, stressing that it would surely put smiles on the faces of both the direct beneficiaries and the entire Community.
“If there is anything that makes me happy, it’s to see the smiles on the faces of my people. When you see their smiles, you also, as a community, will be happy. So, anything that makes them happy also makes me happy.
“I want to say Onne is one of your host communities and a very peaceful host community. I believe that you enjoy a very cordial relationship with Onne as one of your hosts. And I assure you that with what you are doing today, of which we are very excited about it…
“I don’t know the number of persons that will be empowered today. But I want to assure you that your relationship with Onne will still continue cordially.
“We are very grateful for honoring our youths by giving them skills. Because if there is anything any youth needs, it’s the skills. You can’t go on a life without a special skill.
“So, we are very honored. Thank you and God bless you.”
Speaking in the same vein, Elvis Aguma, the Youths President of the Rumuadolu Community thanked the STARZS management for its past and present community programme.
“We are pleased and honored for this program that you organized today. It is a state-of-the-art program. And over the years, that you have had investments in Rumuadolu, it has been a very good cordial relationship between us. And with this that you are currently doing, we are also going to reciprocate further.
For the Ogu Community, the STARZS Group has actually been a huge economic blessing. Chief Fidelis Opouye who put this in words while speaking for Chief Taripaka Gbobbo Amos consequently commended the company.
“We have come to see that this establishment started with good footing. You have been very cordial, very fair to all the youths who have been here. Sometimes ago, not in this hall, somewhere else, they were invited. I was also there. And I made a speech last year.
“As a community, when we see progress, when we see people reaching out to meet our needs, we encourage them. We build the platform for them to operate. And we don’t want to stop their operations”, he said, stressing that skills acquisition will change their lives permanently.
“We will continue to be careful and cordial. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you!” he stressed!
Aside from the community leaders and the management staff of the STARZS Group, Nnamdi Amadi, the Charkins Registrar and Thlawur Dunya – Coordinator Academic Affairs representing the Rector, were also present.
Meantime, the Managing Director of the Diopter Technology, a key partner in the training scheme, Emmanuel Ugwumba, has emphasized that the present course of action will bring light to the families of the beneficiaries.
Recalling the experience from his village, he also highlighted that anybody with a good training record will want to recreate such value to other individuals.
“When STARS came up with this, I just understood the culture of the company. The culture, reflects a lot from their core values. They also have respect for good results”, he said, tasking the beneficiaries to genuinely appreciate the wonderful opportunities the Company was offering them.
“So, begin with the end in mind. Know what you want to achieve, such that when you’re done, you become valuable to STARS Investment, or any other company, you’re going to work in.
“And in the end, both your community and your families, will become the shining light, because of the singular decision you’ve made today,” he further said.
