Community school emerges best in TotalEnergies book reading contest

A community secondary school has won the 2025 ‘Book Reading’ contest on Open Day Event packaged by TotalEnergies Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

The oil company that organized the event said it was a strategy to discover the next generation of greatness in the oil region.

‎The ‘Book Reading’ brought together over 10 senior secondary schools in Port Harcourt, including Enitona High School, Immaculate High School, Model Secondary School GRA Port Harcourt, Redeemers College, and GCSS Borikiri, saw Community Secondary School (CSS) Okuru-Ama emerge winner.

‎Speaking on behalf of the students of the winning college, Hellen Amakiri expressed gratitude to TotalEnergies for the initiative which she said has equipped her and other students to acquire vital knowledge needed to make the right choice for a successful future.

‎She also commended TotalEnergies for its prominent role in the oil, gas, and renewable energy industry and their commitment to sustainable energy in Nigeria and the world.

‎ Amakiri further expressed gratitude to the oil giant for the opportunity to participate in the Book Reading and Open Day Event, which paved the way for the emergence of her school as the winner of the 2025 edition.

Speaking, Olivier Casesolles, deputy managing director (DMD) Total Energies, Joint Venture Asset, said that the initiative of encouraging young ones to read was not simply about increasing literature but about nurturing minds capable of empathy, creativity, and critical thinking.

‎Casesolles stated that for over 60 years, TotalEnergies has been passionate about lighting up minds and empowering future generations through education.

‎He said the scholarships provided by TotalEnergies has assisted thousands of students to access quality education, and that more than 700 petroleum engineers have graduated from the Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt.

‎He also stated that their lives today and in the future depend on the books they read and the knowledge they possessed. He traced his own life and success stories to an early exposure to reading.

‎The DMD also identified other education support initiatives of TotalEnergies in Nigeria to include the provision of solar lamps to students to aid their studies, provision of classroom blocks, state-of the-art laboratories and equipment in schools and training of some university lecturers at the Massachusette Institute of Technology in the USA. The move, he said, is to strengthen teaching methodology in the country.

‎The company emphasized that the ‘Book Reading and Open Day Event’ has enhanced character discipline and personal growth since it’s inception.

Adesua Adebola, General Manager, Country Services of TotalEnergies, said the purpose of the book reading contest was to empower students. She charged them to take reading seriously as it is the key that unlocks a successful and brighter future.

‎Also, Azibaolalare Uzoma Wogu, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, who was represented by Charles Gbaranwi, a Deputy Director in the Ministry, commended TotalEnergies for their contributions to the growth, development, and success of education in the state, expressing the Ministry’s continuous readiness for partnership.

Speaking on the need for guidance in the choice of a career path, Adolphus Akwumakwuhie, a legal practitioner and ‘Role Model of the Day’, urged students to take advantage of the morning period which is the preparatory stage. He warned against bad association, drug abuse, and other social vices incidental to youths as they lead to a destructive future.