The Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC), Engr. Effiong Okon, has urged schoolchildren from Assa and surrounding communities to embrace education, innovation, and self-belief as tools for transforming their future and lifting their communities out of poverty.
He gave the charge during the opening ceremony of the 2025 STEM Workshop, a flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of AGPC themed “Fostering Creativity and Innovation.”
The two-day event, which attracted over 1,000 students from AGPC’s 11 host and impacted communities in Imo State, brought together students, teachers, and community representatives in a shared mission to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
Addressing the enthusiastic participants, Engr. Okon expressed appreciation to the Imo State Commissioner for Education, as well as teachers and community leaders, for their collaboration in empowering the next generation.
“The gift of children is the gift of life. You are the future of this country. Some of you will become engineers, doctors, lawyers — and maybe one of you will even sit in the Imo State Government House someday,” he told the students.
Encouraging them to stay focused despite present challenges, Okon added:
“Don’t allow poverty or your background to cloud your thinking. Many of us started with nothing, but with focus and hard work, you can become anything you want to be. Nigeria will become great, and Assa will become great.”
He explained that AGPC’s investment in STEM education reflects its firm belief that education is the cornerstone of community development and empowerment.
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“Our commitment to STEM education stems from the conviction that the leaders of tomorrow are being nurtured today, right here in classrooms like this,” he said. “This workshop is not just about formulas or theories; it’s about nurturing minds that will design solutions, build technologies, and drive progress in our society.”
Okon commended NNPC Limited and Seplat Energy Plc, AGPC’s joint venture partners, for their unwavering support in promoting initiatives that prepare young Nigerians for a technology-driven future.
He urged the pupils to engage actively during the sessions:
“Whenever you are in doubt, ask questions. Challenge ideas. Collaborate. Explore new possibilities. The knowledge and skills you gain here will empower you to become catalysts for change in your communities.”
Concluding with a message of hope, he stated:
“We are not just building bridges to STEM education; we are laying the foundation for a brighter, more innovative, and prosperous future. AGPC will continue to invest in the brilliance of our youth so that you can become the architects of tomorrow.”
The AGPC STEM Workshop is one of the company’s signature CSR programs, designed to promote science and technology education among schoolchildren in its host and impacted communities. The initiative aligns with AGPC’s vision of empowering local talents, fostering innovation, and contributing to sustainable community development
