By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT- MULTINATIONAL companies doing business in Ogoni area of Rivers State have been enjoined to develop the culture of giving back to the communities where they operate.

Former president, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Mr. Ledum Mitee, made the appeal during the presentation of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, centre built by Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, to Ogoni people in Bori.

He said the ICT centre would go a long way in building capacity among people of Ogoni area. Items at the centre were 13 laptops connected to the internet through VSAT, powered by an 18.5 KVA generator.

He said: “It also places some responsibilities on us to challenge any other company that is operating here that they must live up to the standard these people have set and, in fact, higher, depending on what they are doing here. That is why it is significant that we are here today.”

Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Leyii Kwane, lauded the firm for the donation, noting that it would help the area catch up with the ongoing ICT revolution all over the world.

Project Manager of RCC, Mr. Sharon Simcha said the centre was one way the firm could say thank you to the area for its peaceful operations in the area. He said the firm had never been harassed in its five years of doing business in the area.

He said: “I feel bold to mention that the company has not recorded any form of violence or intimidation during it’s over five years of operation in Ogoniland by any person and this is due to the purposeful leadership of those at the helm of affairs in Ogoni.”