Leading telecommunications provider, Airtel Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability with a nationwide campaign to combat plastic pollution in commemoration of World Environment Day 2025. Themed “Ending Plastic Pollution”, this year’s events demonstrated the corporate mission of Airtel to champion environmental stewardship.

Tagged #UnPlasticAfrica, the company’s campaign began on June 3, mobilizing employees across six operating regions for a week of education, advocacy, and cleanup activities aimed at promoting sustainable living, in alignment with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

The activities kicked off with a Sustainability Seminar, led by Dr Hassan A. Sanuth, Director of Sanitation Services at the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and focused on the role of the individual in reducing plastic waste while promoting practical recycling habits.

Following this educational session, all Airtel Nigeria employees took the “Eco Pledge” to commit to reusable containers.

In his remarks at the seminar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, reaffirmed Airtel`s dedication to sustainability.

“As we invest in Nigeria’s digital future, we are equally committed to protecting the environment that sustains us. From AI-powered services that reduce paper use to partnerships that connect rural areas without environmental disruption, we are embedding sustainability into every layer of our operations,” he said.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Sanuth emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis, particularly in urban centers like Lagos.

“Plastic waste is choking our drains, polluting our water bodies, and threatening public health. Every little action counts, from individuals making conscious choices to organizations taking bold steps and together, our collective efforts can make a significant impact in ending plastic pollution,” he noted.

He also highlighted the dangers of plastic waste, noting that microplastics have been traced in food, water, and even human blood and called for stronger policies and corporate accountability.

The highlight of the week was a market clean-up and sensitization drive held by Airtel employees in Abuja, Oyo, Benin, Enugu, and Kano. Airtel staff volunteers, in collaboration with local partners, led plastic collection efforts, conducted environmental hygiene training, and distributed over 3,000 branded reusable bags and parasols to market vendors and shoppers.

The World Environment Day campaign, nicknamed Earth Fest 2025, is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader CSR Strategy, which continues to integrate environmental stewardship into its organizational practices.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited recently in Port Harcourt inaugurated 140 trainees for an intensive three-month Advanced Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Programme for the US$5 billion NLNG Train 7 Project on Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The trainees, who are graduates in different academic disciplines, had completed a 12-month Basic Training Programme in diverse oil-and-gas-industry-related skill sets and are now for the on-the-job phase which includes active hands-on participation in operational areas such as Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), Commissioning, and Desktop Programmes, among others.

In November 2024, a set of 331 trainees under Batch A of the NLNG T7 HCD Training Programme had begun capacity development in facility management, engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Quality Assurance and Quality Control, as well as welding and fabrication.

Another set of 77 trainees under Batch B of the same Training Programme began capacity development in data analytics and supply chain management among several other fields relevant to the operations of the oil and gas industry.

Addressing the trainees and trainers drawn from the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) as well as Management personnel of the NCDMB and NLNG, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Advanced NC-HCD training is more than a milestone, but an expression of the collective commitment of the Board and the NLNG “to nurturing world-class Nigerian professionals who will shape the future of our oil and gas industry.”

He said the Board has remained steadfast in its conviction that Human Capital Development is “a critical investment in the sustainability and competiveness” of Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain, pointing out that over 400 Nigerians have undergone basic training in diverse technical, vocational, and specialized areas and are equipped with practical skills directly aligned with industry needs.

According to the NCDMB boss, who was represented by the Manager, Human Capital Development, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena, the Board and NLNG are “advancing even further by formally launching the on-the-job component of the NLNG Train 7 NC-HCD Programme,” which would see 140 bright and promising Nigerians gain practical exposure and real-time experience across technical domains within the NLNG operational plants in Bonny Island.

He commended the NLNG, which he described as “a trusted and forward-looking partner in the development of [Nigeria’s] human capital base,” for its unwavering partnership, noting that the company has not only complied with Nigerian Content requirements but “has consistently shown leadership in embracing the spirit of national capacity building.”

Engr. Ogbe also acknowledged the critical role of OGTAN for being instrumental in aligning training content, delivery standards, and capacity development frameworks with the actual needs of the industry. The trainers, he noted, have helped to bridge the gap between training and employability – ensuring that trainees do not just learn but are ready to add value from day one.

In her own remarks, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of the NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, expressed profound appreciation to the NCDMB for productive collaboration on the HCD Programme, which she described as “a reaffirmation of NLNG’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.”

She said the support of the NCDMB has enabled the NLNG to effectively carry out its programme for the development of a strong, skilled and highly professional workforce for the country’s oil and gas industry. The trainings, she noted, are particularly significant as the NLNG Train 7 Project, which involves very advanced technology, has reached 80 per cent completion, and highly skilled technical manpower would be required. Final Investment Decision on the project was signed in December 2019.

On what she described as “robust, advanced … on-the-job training programme,” Dr. Hosfall disclosed that the trainees would work within the facilities of the NLNG on Bonny Island.

In closing remarks, the Nigerian Content Manager of NLNG, Engr. Dagogo Buowari, thanked the NCDMB for the partnership between the two organisations, and expressed his belief that the industry would continue to benefit from their collective endeavours.

He advised trainees to get themselves organised for their three-month programme on Bonny Island, which begins on June 16, 2025, and to ensure they do not become distracted in the course of their training.