L.E.A.D Career Project Motivates Students to take Climate Action

The 10th edition of the TotalEnergies L.E.A.D Career project has motivated participants to take leadership roles and make a career choice that will promote the Sustainable Development Goal 13 - Climate action in their different locations.

L.E.A.D (Learn, Experience, Articulate & Decide) is a sustainable development initiative of TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc. (TEMNPLC) with the objective of building the knowledge of senior secondary school students on career choices, prospects, requirements, and pathways.

The theme of the career project held on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at the TotalEnergies Apapa Terminal Depot was Building a Sustainable Future through Youth Leadership.

In his address, the Managing Director, TEMNPLC, Dr. Samba Seye remarked that the initiative started in 2014 from a physical event to a hybrid with increased participation across the country.

“TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc. has implemented this programme in 154 schools with over 3,740 students directly benefitting.”

The MD stated that TotalEnergies intends to see an increasing number of teenagers making the right career choices while bridging the gap between industry and the academia.

Dr. Seye remarked that, “the company is committed to the education of young people, and as such, places a high premium on educational initiatives such as the L.E.A.D Career project. The contribution of education in the development of any country cannot be over-emphasised.”

Principal Education Officer, Education District 4, Mrs. Omolaoye Adebisi remarked that the Lagos State Ministry of Education is passionate about student’s development and encourages partnerships with organisations like TotalEnergies. She used the opportunity to encourage the girlchildren to explore more the field of engineering just like their male counterparts.

Earlier, the General Manager, TotalEnergies Country Services, Mrs. Adesua Adewole had an interactive discussion with the students on Leadership, the values expected and how to define what they stand for.

Then came the Climate Action session led by the Climate Change and Sustainability Expert at FABE International Foundation, Mr. Okeyinka Israel. He encouraged the students to take leadership positions and make a stand on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a focus on Goal 13 – Climate Action. Mr. Israel encouraged the students to let their career choice be influenced by the need to make the future sustainable.

Over 1200 students from more than 23 schools across the geo-political zones of the country participated in the hybrid career project. They included 30 students who had the opportunity to physically participate in the Job Shadow, an aspect of the project that allows students to understudy the daily routine of employees, on the job. The secondary school students also participated in the tour of the TotalEnergies Apapa Depot in Lagos to have a first-hand experience of depot operations.