Oriental Energy Resources Limited has supported 692 people in its host communities in Akwa Ibom State.
The company provided support in education, skills training and business.
The support came through the Effiat and Mbo Host Communities’ Development Trust.
The trust held its 2026 orientation exercise in Uyo for the beneficiaries.
The programme aims to create more opportunities for people in the communities.
Education is a major part of the programme.
A total of 400 students will receive education bursaries.
The group includes 200 secondary school students and 200 tertiary students.
Each tertiary student will receive N500,000 as a one-off education grant.
The programme will also give full secondary school scholarships to 40 students.
The support will help students stay in school.
It will also reduce some of the financial pressure on their families.
The programme will also help residents learn new skills.
A total of 72 people will receive vocational and technical training.
They will train at the Dakkada Training Centre, Azimarine and Aptech Computer School.
The courses include welding, fabrication and computer studies.
The trust will pay for their tuition.
It will also cover accommodation and feeding costs.
The trainees will receive monthly stipends during the programme.
They will also get take-off support after completing their training.
Another 180 residents will receive business grants.
The money will help them grow their businesses.
It will also help some beneficiaries start new businesses.
Beneficiaries will first receive 80 per cent of their approved grant.
The trust will release the remaining 20 per cent later.
Officials will first check how beneficiaries used the first payment.
The trust has asked beneficiaries to keep proper business records.
It also wants them to use the money for the businesses they submitted.
Oriental Energy Managing Director Mustafa Indimi said the company wants to create lasting benefits for its host communities.
The company carried out a needs assessment in 2023.
It used the findings to develop a five-year development plan in 2024.
The company began the plan in January 2026.
The plan covers several areas.
These include education, healthcare, water, electricity, housing and roads.
It also includes programmes that support local businesses and jobs.
The trust also started a medical outreach programme in May 2026.
The programme took place in Mbo Local Government Area.
Residents received medical checks and free medicines.
The trust also provided basic medical equipment to health facilities.
The facilities serve communities such as Effiat, Ebughu, Enwang, Uda and Udesi.
The 692 beneficiaries come from different parts of the host communities.
Some are students.
Others are learning new skills.
Some are receiving money to support their businesses.
The programmes focus on areas that can improve people’s daily lives.
They also aim to create more opportunities for young people and families.
Oriental Energy says it will continue to monitor the programmes.
The company also plans to work with community members as the development plan continues.
For the beneficiaries, the support offers help with education, skills and business development.
The wider aim is to create opportunities that can benefit the communities in the long term.
