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Oando Foundation wins 2013 Africa Oil & Gas Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative Award

By BusinessNews Staff on November 16, 2013

Oando Foundation, an independent charity, launched by Oando Plc, wins the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative award at the 2013 Africa Oil & Gas Awards. The prize was given to the Foundation in recognition of its continued commitment to improving the learning environment in public schools across the nation.

The Africa Oil & Gas Awards are the only awards for the industry in Africa, and are judged by a panel of African Ministries for Energy and oil and gas operators. They recognise achievements in Africa’s oil and gas sector, rewarding companies which have played a defining role in moving the industry forward. Competing within a category alongside BP, Addax Petroleum, and Caracel, Oando Foundation’s Adopt-A-School Initiative was recognised for its contribution to economic development and the improvement of the lives of children and communities in Nigeria.

The award was presented to Oando Foundation by Oliver Kinross, an international operating business research organization. The award was an acknowledgement of Oando Foundation’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility within the Oil & Gas sector. The Foundation is committed to radically improve the quality of teaching and learning in Nigerian Schools and communities by ensuring access to world class basic education systems.

Commenting on the award, Miss Tokunboh Durosaro, Director of Oando Foundation, “We are very excited to be selected amongst other contenders for this award. We regard it as a call to a higher level of commitment and service. We realize that education is critical to broad-based economic growth and poverty reduction, having a multiplier effect and contributing greater outcomes in other areas such as health, democracy, and governance. The major way our Nation can actualize these benefits given our burgeoning population is to continuously support government’s efforts aimed at improving access to quality basic education for all citizens.’

The concept of adoption is based on the premise that improving the quality of education across the continent, with Nigeria being no exception, requires a multifaceted approach focused on whole school development, ensuring ongoing engagement and sustainability are key components of this endeavour.

The thrust of the AASI project involves identifying, adopting and renovating dilapidated public schools, thereby improving the quality of learning infrastructure across the nation and subsequently creating model institutions for children.

Alongside the above, the Foundation is also implementing the following in all its adopted schools:

• The Oando Scholars Programme which sponsors the best 10 primary six students of each adopted school, through their secondary school education. The award covers tuition where applicable, as well as other expenses which include transportation, study materials and uniforms.

• Teacher training programme to build a cadre of in-service teachers in all adopted schools who are knowledgeable and competent and are able to utilise the necessary participatory methodologies in their pedagogical practices.

• Full implementation of the ICT Curriculum through the establishment of Creative Centers. Which will provide ICT facilities, digital resources and libraries to meet the needs of different age groups.

• Establishment of Early Childhood Care Development centers in all its adopted schools, to meet the needs of children based on the government approved curriculum.

• The Foundation also invests in strengthening the effectiveness of key partners (Local Government Education Authorities and School Based Management Committees) vested with the mandate of school development through two main capacity development initiatives to ensure programme sustainability.

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