By Tony Nyong
UYO—DIRECTOR General of Akwa Ibom State Investment and Industrial Promotion Council (AKIIPOC), Mr. Celestine Okpokpong, has lauded Total Exploration and Production, Nigeria, for impacting on lives of the people in its operational environments in the Niger Delta.

Okpokpong, who spoke at the fifth graduation ceremony of 200 unemployed youths trained in the skills aquisition training programme of Total Exploration and Production, Nigeria at Uyo, said the oil firm’s valued tradition of corporate social responsibility was positively impacting on the troubled lives of  unemployed youths.

The General Manager, Total Exploration and Production, Mr. Vincent Nnadi, in his address, said the company was ready to champion the battle to enthrone a just and egalitarian society, noting that the notable strides were meant to transform not only the Niger Delta region, but also the whole country.

The 200 unemployed youths, who were the fifth batch to graduate in the oil firms skills acquisition trainees programme, were urged to make judicious use of the equipment by the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Laurence Udosen, who was represented by Mr. Akpanim Ekpe, the permanent secretary of the ministry.

Notable Nigerians from all works of life as well as parents, guardians and relatives of the graduands, who gathered at the ceremony could not hold back their tears of joy as they watched their once notorious children, turn to better persons to change the landscape of their communities.