Dangote, governors, harp on education as catalyst for economic development

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Governors Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Babagana Umara of Borno, as well as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, have stressed the need for science education for emerging economies to leapfrog development.

They also called on International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other firms to improve on community development to fast-track development.

Speaking at the grand finale of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Science Quiz in Abuja, where Master Oluwatobi Ojo from Ogun State emerged winner, Dangote stressed the importance of education in Africa, especially in the area of nation-building.

Commending the corporation for the sustained effort, Dangote said that education remained a means of raising next generation of scientists in the country.

The Kano State-born billionaire businessman insisted that emerging economies like Nigeria needed scientists that could think outside the box to solve problems.

Speaking at the competition where 18 students from across the six geopolitical zones made it to the final, Sylva said multinationals impact society and improve their operations by giving back to communities where they operate.

The former Bayelsa State governor urged them to emulate what the NNPC was doing under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) especially with the development of intellectuals.

He said: “Oil and gas companies are duty-bound to give back to the communities where exploration is carried out, to bring relief to the people.

“What is happening here today will be remembered by these children with in future. We commend NNPC for this giant stride and call on other agencies to emulate this initiative to give back to the community.”

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the state-owned oil firm would sustain the competition and extend the initiative to other fields of education.

Kyari said: “Building a successful nation has to deal with talent management, and as a corporation, we try to recognise them young and help them to development it well.

“NNPC will continue to use its CSR to develop intellects, develop talents and build schools as an enabler.”

He noted that for Nigeria to secure its place in the global space, it would require sound intellectual capacity.

Speaking on the recent oil discovery in Bauchi, Mohammed said the development would not only unite the country but also improve its economic outlook.