The Managing Director of ANOH Gas Processing Company (AGPC), Engr. Effiong Okon has charged school children from Assa, Imo State, and her impacted communities to embrace education, innovation, and self-belief as tools for transforming their future and lifting their communities out of poverty.
He gave this 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 event brought together students, teachers, and community representatives from AGPC’s 11 host and impacted communities in Imo State.
Addressing the gathering, the MD expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for Education, Imo State Government, as well as teachers and community leaders for their collaboration in empowering the next generation.
The two-day STEM CSR Workshop commenced with an impressive turnout of 1000 students drawn from AGPC’s host and impacted communities. Through a series of engaging activities and assessments, the participants were later screened to 100 finalists who continued into the intensive ‘Introduction to STEM Education’ session, marking the formal start of the learning journey.
The event also witnessed the presence of government functionaries, including representatives from the Imo State Ministry of Education, community leaders, and other dignitaries, underscoring the collaborative effort to nurture the next generation of innovators and problem solvers.
He said, 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.
Encouraging the students to stay focused despite present challenges, he 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 is rooted in its firm belief that education is the cornerstone of community development and empowerment.
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 noted. 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.
Acknowledging AGPC’s partners, NNPC Limited and Seplat Energy Plc, the MD commended their consistent support in promoting initiatives that prepare young Nigerians for a technology-driven future.
Effiong enjoined the pupils to engage actively, ask questions, challenge ideas, collaborate, explore new possibilities, he told the participants. The knowledge and skills you gain here will empower you to become catalysts for change in your communities.
He concluded with a message of hope and continuity.
‘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 aimed at promoting science and technology education among school children 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.
