The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, operator of OML 130, and partners have inaugurated a women development and skills acquisition centre in Omu-Aran, Kwara State.

The development and skills acquisition centre was designed to provide an enabling environment for women and young people to learn skills and create employment in Omu-Aran.

The self-sustaining skill acquisition centre is expected to reduce women and youth unemployment and restiveness in the communities around the state, as well as enable them to generate income.

The centre consists of four training halls for fashion designing and tailoring, catering and hotel management, computer training and mixed training facility

It has a sick-bay, over 400 seater auditorium and lounge supported with a solar power generating unit.

The Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti, who was represented by Bunmi Lawson, said the project aligned with the sustainable development goals.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive, TotalEnergies Upstream Nigeria Limited, Mike Sangster, who was represented by the Executive Director, People and Country Service, George Oguachuba, pointed out that the project was among eight projects scheduled for inauguration in November 2022.

He said another 19 projects were under construction and would be inaugurated when completed.

OML 130 partners include NNPC, TotalEnergies Upstream, PRIME (formerly Petrobras), Sapetro and CNOOC.