Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture in partnership with Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation has enrolled no fewer than 60 young artists from the Niger Delta at the Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya Training Centre in Agbarha-Otor, Delta State for training in arts and craft. This training which will last for two weeks will focus on metal construction, ceramics (pottery) and leather crafts. Thereafter the participants will be provided entrepreneurial opportunities and mentoring under Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, a renowned Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor.

In his message to the participants, SPDC’s Sustainable Development and Community Relations Manager, Mr. Igo Weli, said, “Through the training tagged ‘Arts of the Delta,’ our commitment to achieving sustainable development through youth empowerment in the Niger Delta is being realised.” Weli, who was represented by SPDC’s Senior Partnership Advisor, Mr. Michael Adande, enjoined the participants to give their full attention to the programme describing it as “an opportunity to acquire success nuggets from the iconic Onobrakpeya Foundation”.

The participants, made up of academically-trained and non-academically-trained artists, were drawn from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers states.

Source: Daily independent, 27^th April 2015