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Okomu Palm Oil Organizes Community Training; Gives Bursary To Indigent Students

SYNERGY between companies and its neighbouring communities has been described as a yardstick for peace and progress in the society.

This was the thrust of a lecture titled Community company synergy, a recipe for progress (Alaghodaro) delivered by Mr. Kingsley Erinmwionghae at the biannual community training organized by Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC for members of its neighbouring communities.
Mr. Erinmwionghae said no company under the law is obliged to embark on any corporate social responsibility project for its neighbouring community opined that execution of these CSR projects is a company’s way of contributing to the development of its neighbouring communities.
He described corporate social responsibility as a tool for businesses to add value to their environment noting that traditional heads, men, youths, women, and other critical stakeholders in the community must be involved formation, implementation, and maintaining these CSR projects.
He said while companies like Okomu will be willing to execute CSR projects for its neighbouring communities, lack of trust, transparency among community members, internal leadership tussle, and breakdown in communication can result in conflicts that will eventually hinder future projects from being executed in such communities.
Managing Director Okomu Oil Palm Company PLC., Dr. Graham Hefer while welcoming the community representative said the annual training is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the company and the communities.
Dr. Hefer added that management has been proactive in positively impacting the communities’ lives, hence the recent needs assessment done in the various communities to determine the actual needs of the people.
He said all the company requires from the communities was to be good ambassadors of the company to the world and as well as help protect its staff and properties.
Dr. Graham Hefer also used the occasion to announce the increment of the bursary award to indigent students of tertiary institutions from Ninety thousand naira (N90,000) to One Hundred and Ten thousand naira (N110,000) and urged the beneficiaries of the bursary awards to be more involved in the issues of their communities.
Responding, some of the community representatives including Chief Ewansiha from Udo, Richard Amayo from Odighi, Hon. Amiyenkunmo J.E from Safarogbo and Omoregie Felix from Umokpe community appreciated management of Okomu for the annual interactive section adding that this has helped in fostering peace and development between their communities and the company.
They also express the appreciation of their respective communities to management on the annual CSR projects which they say have brought development to their communities.
They pledge that in reciprocating this gesture from the Okomu, members of their community will always protect the workers and properties of the company in the best way they can.
Also, Mr. Matthew Fapohunda from Owan community expressed the appreciation of his community to the management for its timely intervention in the fire incident that affected the community stressing that Okomu’s intervention prevented the fire from causing spreading.
A representative from the Edo Civil Society Organization (EDOSCO) leftist Austine Enabulele who was an observer at the programme commended the management for its continuous efforts in impacting positively the lives of its neighbouring communities and urged that these efforts should be sustained.
Leftist Enabulele urged the community representatives to always put the interest of their communities first in their dealings with the Okomu as it is the communities they are representing not their personal interest.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of bursary awards to thirty-seven (37) students from Okomu’s neighbouring communities.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Miss Faith Agbonze from Oke Community appreciated management for its support towards their education and assured that this will spur them to be more dedicated to their studies and be good ambassadors of the company in their various communities.

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