Ekperikpe Ekpo, the State Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), has pushed private sector participants in the oil and gas industry to increase their financial contributions to CSR initiatives, especially those that support the health and education sectors.
He made this claim on Tuesday in a statement released by Louis Ibah, the minister of state for petroleum resources (gas).
According to the announcement, Ekpo spoke at the opening ceremony of the accident and emergency unit facility that Nigeria LNG Limited has rebuilt and outfitted as part of its Hospital Support Program at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The minister gave money to the hospital's management to help with drug stocking the new pharmacy in the accident and emergency unit and to help pay for the treatment of some patients who were admitted on an emergency basis but were unable to pay for their care.
The minister said, “The NLNG intervention in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and other ones completed and donated to other teaching hospitals in universities across the country was in consonance with the priorities of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.”
He also charged other companies doing business in the oil and gas sector to emulate the NLNG.
“The NLNG project in healthcare facilities in our universities is in consonance with the priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, which focuses on education, health and social investments as essential pillars of development,” Ekpo asserted.
According to Ekpo, the NLNG Hospital Support Programme epitomises a commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
“This initiative is not just a corporate social responsibility endeavour; it is a lifeline to millions of Nigerians, providing access to improved healthcare facilities and services.
I'm really pleased of this project, and I hope that additional energy-related businesses will expand into the health and education sectors as well," Ekpo continued.
In an attempt to make a major contribution to the growth of the country, the minister gave attendees the assurance that the oil and gas industry is committed to providing a multipurpose approach.
The minister of gas expressed gratitude to the NLNG for their vision and steadfast commitment to national development.
“This is not just an investment in bricks and mortar; they are investments in our most valuable resource – our people. I charge other corporate entities to emulate the NLNG initiative to advance private sector frontiers to contribute meaningfully to the health and well-being of our citizens. The importance of this project,” he said.
He gave the University Teaching Hospital's management the task of making sure the building was kept up-to-date and was being used to its maximum capacity in order to save lives.
At the teaching hospital, the minister also set a fresh basis for the development of an additional medical facility.
Ekpo said, “Today, as we gather to officially hand over the renovated and equipped accident and emergency unit at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. We are not just opening a facility, we are unlocking opportunities and renewing hope for better health outcomes, for faster and more efficient emergency care, and for the enhancement of medical education and research.
“The importance of this project cannot be overstated, especially in a time when this administration is ramping up programmes to improve healthcare system in Nigeria.”
For the residents of Uyo and its surroundings, the minister claims, this unit's enhanced ability to provide emergency care and reaction is a ray of hope and comfort.
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