Fifty-six students drawn from 18 communities bordering Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc in Ovia South West, Ovia North East, and Uhunmwonde local government areas have benefited from the 2024/2025 annual bursary award of the oil palm company.
Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Dr. Graham Hefer while addressing the students said the company increased the number from 46 in 2023 to 57 jn 2024 as part of measures to ensure more students benefit from the scheme.
Dr. Graham Hefer represented by the company’s industrial coordinator, Mr. Leonit Shaji revealed that aside from increasing the number the company has also increased the amount from one hundred and ten thousand naira (N110,000) per recipient to one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150,000) per recipient.
He said, “As a company, we recognize the importance of education in the advancement of any society and the need to contribute our quota to indigenous students from neigbhouring communities in our plantations, hence the introduction of the bursary scheme”.
Despite the challenges facing businesses in the country, Dr. Graham Hefer said, “we have not only increased the bursary slot numerically but also increased the amount per recipient this is to ensure that the fund adequately caters for the academic needs of the student.
The Okomu oil palm boss urged the bursary beneficiaries to be worthy ambassadors of not just their communities but also the company while disabusing their minds from social vices which are inimical to their future.
“In the society today and most especially in our various institutions, drug abuse, cultism, and other social vices have become the order of the day, but for you that are here today I want you to look at life after your graduation and strive to be a good ambassador of your communities for selecting you out of the hundreds of students in your community”.
For the bursary recipients, the management of Okomu has shown through its consistency in the bursary scheme that it prioritizes the education of young members of its neigbhouring communities.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke include Evelyn Irabor, James Irowa Odion, Gloria Ehiakhina, and Godwin Prince while appreciating management of Okomu for the bursary award said it will go a long way in meeting their needs in the next academic session.
Aside from the bursary awards the recipients recalled the various corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects executed in their communities stressing that these have helped in the development and improvement of the standard of living in their communities.
Similarly, members of communities neigbhouring Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc have been told of the need to effectively engage in dialogue among all strata of the community and other stakeholders in a bid to attract meaningful development to their community.
This was the thrust of a paper presentation at the second edition of the 2024 bi-annual community training organized by management of Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC.
Guest speaker and a lecturer at the Igbinedion University Okada, Mr. Innocent Eguasa said communication is an effective tool in attracting development to any environment.
Mr. Eguasa noted that understanding the peculiarities of both the company and its neigbhouring communities is essential in achieving the goal of sustainability.
Earlier, the Human resources manager, Mr. Ikponmwonsa Osunbor while welcoming the community representatives said Okomu has taken it upon itself to train members of its neighbouring communities on issues that are beneficial to them not just as individuals but collectively as a community.
Mr. Osunbor noted this kind of dialogue and engagement between the company and the communities is important for harmonious living.
Some of the participants who include Chief Enoch Sulubor, Hon. Ifaluyi Efionayi, and Barr. Alfred Osifo commended management of Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC for its investment in its neigbhouring communities stressing that the effect of this investment is visible in all of their communities.
They assured the company of their continued support and cooperation in ensuring that the company continues to have an enabling environment to operate so as to continue to strive
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the bursary check to the students as well as a certificate of participation to the community representatives.
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