L-R: Chief Joseph Yobo OON; BekemeMasade-Olowola; Harrison
Tare Okiri (Harrysong); Meka Olowola, Chairman, SITEI
Organising Committee
The Community Engagement Standards (CES) was formally presented during the 8th Sustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI) Conference held at Radisson Blu hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos on Friday, 22 November, 2019.
This year’s conference, which attracted not only critical stakeholders in the extractive industries, but also celebrities from resource-rich communities, particularly the Niger-Delta, was an avenue to encourage and support impactful dialogue to promote inclusion in the sector.
Professor Wale Omole OFR, board chair, CSR-in-Action Advocacy gave the opening remark while Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor, Lagos State, was represented by Olalere Odusote, commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, who presented a goodwill message.
In all the opinions canvassed, the speakers, including the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who spoke through the commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Olalere Odusote; ex- international footballer and former Super Eagles captain, Chief Joseph Yobo; song writers and singers, Omawunmi Megbele and Harrison Tare AKA Harrysong; Felix Bob-Nabena, special adviser, Niger Delta Affairs to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Kamoru Busari, director, overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources who spoke through the deputy director, Upstream, Ibrahim Shehu, were in sync with the innumerable benefits that the Community Engagement Standards holds for businesses, government and communities.
SegunAwosanya (Segalink), winner of the Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Human Rights Award (Individual) with presenter of the award Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti (current head of the Ransome-Kuti family)
Kamoru Busari, Director, Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, represented by Ibrahim Shehu, Deputy Director (Upstream), Ministry of Petroleum Resources gave a special address.
Panel Discussion on Partners Dialogue in Promoting Peace & Development Through Community Inclusion had Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, co-chair, Private Sector Advisory Group; Ibrahim Shehu; Dr Umar S. Bamilli, DD, Mines Environmental Compliance, FMMSD; Henry Adigun, Team FOSTER II; Nafiu Akinpelu, deputy director, Oil & Gas Division, Environmental Assessment Department, Ministry of Environment and Barrister Chima Williams, Head, Legal Resources, Environmental Rights Action.
Panel Discussion on Leading the Way; Building Global Communities had Felix Bob-Nabena, senior adviser Niger Delta Affairs to the Minister of Petroleum Resources; AdekunleAkintola, managing director/chief executive officer, Kinsfield Energy; Ray Esebagbon Esq., deputy country director, National Democratic Institute; Julius Brown, Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited.
Panel Discussion on ‘Mainstreaming the Conversation on Community Realities’ had Charles O’Tudor, principal consultant/founder, Adstrat BMC Ltd; OmawumiMegbele, singersSongwriter; Chief Joseph Yobo OON, Ex int. footballer, ex capt. Super Eagles/MeneAborlo One of Ogoniland; Harrison Tare Okiri (Harrysong), musician; Celestine Akpobari, national coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum; EmemOkon, community activist; Dr Olanrewaju Onala, youth leader, Badagry.
