UGO AMADI
Heirs Energies has announced the commissioning and handover of over 50 community development projects and programmes across 80 host communities in Rivers State, through the OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT).
This was stated in a statement signed by Chidimma Ugbojiaku, AVP, External & Government Relations ,
She noted that the milestone, supported by the NNPC/Heirs Energies OML 17 Joint Venture, marks a significant step in the company’s Beyond Energy agenda — where progress is measured not just by oil and gas produced, but by lives improved.
According to the company, the HCDT was established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and provides a structured, community-led platform for sustainable development. The Trust currently has over 70 projects in its portfolio, translating community priorities into tangible infrastructure and economic opportunities.
The projects span reliable electricity and clean water, upgraded schools, healthcare facilities, modern markets, improved road access and vocational training — delivering practical solutions to longstanding needs.On healthcare, Heirs Energies disclosed that its free medical outreach programmes have reached over 24,600 people, with its most recent outreach delivering 76,954 healthcare services to 12,671 beneficiaries.
The company stressed that the impact goes beyond numbers:”It is reflected in the student who now has a better environment in which to learn, the family with improved access to clean water, the entrepreneur with a more suitable place to trade, and the communities gaining access to essential services and greater economic opportunity.
“Heirs Energies noted that what makes the model sustainable is community ownership. Through the HCDT’s governance structure, host communities identify their own development priorities, shape interventions and take ownership of the resulting projects.
The initiative aligns with Africapitalism, the economic philosophy championed by Group Chairman Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, which advocates that responsible private sector investment must generate both economic returns and lasting social value.”Our ambition is not simply to produce more energy, but to ensure that the value we create helps build stronger communities, expand opportunity and secure brighter futures,” the company said.
Heirs Energies expressed appreciation to regulators, NNPC Limited, the HCDT Board of Trustees, community leaders, host communities and all stakeholders for their partnership in demonstrating that responsible energy investment and community development can advance hand in hand.
