‘Indigenous oil firms capable of wading through economic turbulence’

Indigenous oil firm, AOS Orwell has expressed confidence in the Nigerian oil and gas industry despite the harsh operating environment, noting that the company would continue to invest in a bid to maintain its leadership position in the sector.

The Managing Director, AOS Orwell, Femi Omotayo explained that the nation’s oil and gas industry is a very turbulent industry, but stated that there is no better company capable of navigating the turbulence than indigenous companies.

Omotayo at a press conference in partnership with Eye Foundation Hospital to sponsor cataract surgeries for Nigerians under the Hope for Sight Initiative, said his company has budgeted N10 million to sponsor cataract surgeries for 400 people in the country, a fund he said was generated by 75 per cent of its workforce.

“We got 75 per cent of our funding from our staff by just telling them about it. We all understand the importance of our eyes and what it can do for us. So I think the key concern is the assurance that the service will be done to the highest standards and with Eye Foundation, we have that. We are committed with Hope for Sight to keep data so that we can track progress. We would continue to make more people aware while also getting more contributors by inviting other contemporaries in the industry to partner to drive this initiative,” he added.

He pointed out that the direction of the organization towards contributing to a better quality of living is not just for its employees, but for its external community members as well.

“We are a compassionate organization with a heart for people. This is why we jumped on this initiative when we were approached. It is a laudable cause and we are proud to throw the full force of our financial weight behind this,” he said.

He noted that the company has been involved in several other causes that give back to the community on a consistent note.

Also speaking at the event, the Group Head, Human Resources and Administration, Mrs. Adetokunbo Ayo-Ogunsanya lauded the Hope for Sight Initiative and its goal to provide free surgeries to visually-impaired persons.

In her words, “One of our core values at Inlaks is excellence, and we are happy to partner with AOS Orwell working with the best in the industry; Eye Foundation on this initiative. It is important to one’s existence to have a vision and having the heart to give back to society.”

She expressed her confidence in the Hope for Sight Initiative to change lives and reiterated Inlaks commitment to continuing this noteworthy cause in line with its CSR drive.

The Chief Business Development Officer, Eye Foundation, Adeyemi Oyewumi expressed his confidence in the initiative especially because Eye Foundation has conducted thousands of free cataract surgeries and sensitization programmes in the past. He further explained that the selection process of candidates would be purely based on a few key factors such as the severity of the condition and willingness of those affected to participate in sensitization and surgery programme among other underlying considerations.

“Eye Foundation has some of the best and most experienced doctors for this magnitude of work. We have run series of sensitization programmes and surgeries in the past and we are poised to deliver excellently and transparently on this as well. We are also very encouraged that organizations can recognize a need and go all out to meet that need,” he said.

Giving a background on the initiative, the initiator of the initiative, Lakshmi Gopinathan, shared some valuable data regarding people living with cataract in the selected area as well as her passion to fund corrective surgeries to those battling the disease seeing that she also contended with optical challenges as a child.

The data revealed that cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Nigeria and is common in the older age group that is 50 years and above.

It also disclosed that the disease is on the rise especially in rural areas within Nigeria where sensitization levels are low and there is a general misconception of the disease and its treatment options.