By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

As part of efforts to fight challenges posed by infectious diseases and the need for preventive health care, the TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited in partnership with Nigeria- Sao Tome & Principe Joint Development Authority, have donated hygiene and sanitary facility to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility in Abeokuta on Tuesday, MD,/CE & Country Chair, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mr. Matthieu Bouyer, said the need to respond to the health challenges posed by infectious diseases and the need for preventive health care in Nigerian society cannot be over emphasised.

He stressed that diseases like Ebola and the COVID-19 pandemic had shown that basic hygiene such as hand washing and good sanitary environment will go a long way in protecting the populace from harm.

The facility comprising a block of 10 toilets, urinals for male, wash hand basins, hand dryers, and tissue holders, a borehole, 5.5kva hybrid solar power system KVA solar power system.

Mr. Bouyer disclosed that the completion and commissioning of the project was in furtherance of the corporate social responsibility initiatives of TotalEnergies and the Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe JDZ partnership, adding that the project was the sixth of similar facilities replicated in tertiary institutions across all the geopolitical zones of the country.

He said, “in addition, the partnership has awarded scholarships to 286 undergraduate students across the country, in continuation of our investment in other aspects of health and education for the benefits of the people”.

“TotalEnergies as a responsible energy company remains committed to the development of the people and continues to pursue highly impactful CSR initiatives across different spheres of the Nigerian society”.

“In our Deep-Water operations, Total Energies undertook a strategy to deploy 84 significant infrastructure projects across Nigeria since 2016 to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and technical education, maternal & child health, access to clean water, as well as women and youth empowerment, in consonance with related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”.

“It is important to note that these projects were realised using the novel approach of “Project Managers” which permits the delivery of projects in remote and challenging environments while ensuring the use of local expertise and stakeholder engagement”.

“As we hand over this hygiene and sanitary project to the polytechnic today, we implore you to ensure its sustainable use for maximum positive impact on the school community”.

“The sustainability shall be evaluated during our Impact Assessment Exercise, when we will come back to check how this project has helped and improved the lives of the people of this institution”.

In his remarks, Dr Jack Lorvde , Acting Chairman, NSTPJDA, noted that the project was dedicated to the service of the academic community of the institution and humanity.

Lorvde , represented by Mrs Magaret Allagh, stated that the project was to be located in state government owned tertiary institutions, saying that MAPOLY represented the one for the Southwest.

Dr Adeoye Odedeji, MAPOLY Rector, expressed appreciation that the facility was cited in the institution.

Odedeji added that the institution never lobbied for the project to be cited in the school and that the institution had no financial commitment to the construction of the project, saying that the school only provided the land.