Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta have held a training programme for community representatives in Edo State ahead of the rollout of a N1.2bn partnership focused on peacebuilding and livelihoods.
According to a statement on Tuesday, the training was organised to acquaint committee members with the new implementation framework and operational processes under the partnership, which is aimed at strengthening peace, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable development in communities neighbouring Okomu’s operations.
In his opening remarks, the Communication Officer of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Mr Fidelis Olise, said the training was imperative following the company’s strategic shift in its corporate social responsibility approach from infrastructure development to human capacity development, with a focus on empowering community members through skills acquisition and livelihood enhancement.
“This partnership with PIND is to help develop your communities through empowerment and livelihood programmes. I assure you that if you and your community cooperate and work closely with Okomu and PIND in this new approach to CSR, it will not only benefit a few individuals but a greater majority of the community,” Olise said.
He noted that host communities remain the heart of the company’s operations, stressing that Okomu has deliberately designed its CSR programmes to attract sustainable development to the areas in which it operates. According to him, the shift to human capacity development and livelihood improvement reflects a modern CSR approach that prioritises long-term impact over short-term interventions.
Olise also urged participants to cascade the knowledge gained from the training to other members of their communities, noting that the representation of elders, women, and youth on the Joint Implementation Committee was a deliberate effort to ensure inclusivity and broad-based engagement.
“Pass the knowledge gotten from this training to other members of your community in your various platforms, because the composition of representatives from the elders’ council, women, and youth is a deliberate attempt at reaching every segment of your community,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Economic Development Manager of PIND Foundation, Mr Misan Edema-Sillo, reaffirmed the commitment of both organisations to inclusive development, peaceful coexistence, and shared prosperity within host communities. He explained that the partnership was designed to equip communities with the tools, knowledge, and institutional structures required to drive sustainable change.
“This initiative is to ensure that there is prosperity, peace, and inclusion in Okomu’s neighbouring communities, and as a credible NGO, we assure you that with the cooperation of all stakeholders in this project, this pilot phase will be a huge success,” Edema-Sillo said.
In his remarks, Okomu’s Smallholder and Compliance Manager, Mr. Billy Ghansah, said a key component of the new CSR framework is the empowerment of farmers within host communities through access to finance, technical support, and structured market linkages.
Ghansah disclosed that the first phase of the programme would focus on three major crops: oil palm, cassava, and rubber, adding that additional crops and farming activities aligned with the specific needs of each community would be introduced as the programme progresses.
“We will focus on three major crops in the first phase of the project, which are oil palm, cassava, and rubber. As the programme progresses, other crops or forms of farming, as peculiar to your communities, will be introduced,” he said.
Participants at the training were taken through key thematic areas critical to community development and stability, including peacebuilding, market system development, access to finance, access to energy, and youth employment pathways. The sessions were facilitated by resource persons with expertise across the various focus areas and featured a blend of technical presentations and interactive discussions.
Community members who participated in the training expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that the programme had improved their understanding of peacebuilding mechanisms, economic opportunities, and development pathways available to their communities.
Some of the trainees, including Mark Ehikioya from Umokpe Community, John Enadeghe from Irhue Community, Sese Alexandar from Gbole-Uba Community, Irabor Evelyn from Oke Community, and Amadin Alile from Udo Community, described the engagement as timely and impactful, particularly in addressing youth employment and access to finance challenges.
They also commended Okomu and PIND for adopting a participatory approach that places communities at the centre of development planning and implementation.
The training is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the Joint Implementation Committee and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders as the Okomu–PIND partnership continues to roll out programmes aimed at fostering peace, economic inclusion, and sustainable development across the company’s neighbouring communities in Edo State.
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