Century Post by sylva nze

A Publication of the Century Group

WHY WE ARE NOW KEN ETETE | CE

CENTURY BUMI LTD MAKES A GOOD SHOWING AT THE

2012 AFRICA

OIL WEEK

AGAIN, CG REACHES OUT TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF CANCER PATIENTS, AND SUPPORTS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS

EDITORIAL TEAM CHAIRMAN – EDITORIAL BOARD Ken Etete

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TK Etete

ADVISORS Nadou Amri, Soye Briggs

EDITOR Olutunde Fadairo

ASSISTANT EDITORS Lily Okpapi, Oludayo Olubusayo

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Afoke Orivri

CONTRIBUTORS Miebi Diri, Osas Uwaifo, Ike Chugbo, HSE Team

PHOTOGRAPHY Olazi Burutolu, Aliu Adewunmi Ogunbadejo

All correspondence should be forwarded to olutunde.fadairo@ceslintlgroup.com Century Post is an in-house magazine for the Century Group and its key partners. It is published by the Corporate Aﬀairs Department.

Editor’s Note Dear Centurions, Season's gree ngs!!! The world is increasingly going “e”. “Going” is a present con nuous tense – that is, a gradual progression towards change. CG isn't le out of this “present con nuous” c h a n ge to wa rd s d e ve l o p m e nt a n d a d va n c e d communica on. Going ''e'' is also about 'innova on' for con nuous growth and development.

As the year

comes to an end, and with much less to say and print, there's only one reasonable way to publish our last Post for the year – ''e''. So,… bring out your iPads, turn on your laptops and get ready your BlackBerrys as I welcome you to the Century Post 4th quarter and first ever e-edi on. You'll find it lean and a quick, but interes ng read. The CE's end-of-year MESSAGE is warm and reassuring. Update yourself with latest happenings in COMPANY NEWS, and experience the Africa Oil Week through the words of “Madam Osas”. Get to know how CG con nues to make a difference and impact communi es on our CSER page.

Learn more about hygiene and staying

healthy with informa on from our very own Red Cross patron, the ED, and share the joy of other staﬀ members under SOCIAL DIARY. From the CAD team, we wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. Have a wonderful experience. Very truly yours, Olutunde Editor. 3

KEN ETETE | CE

WHY WE ARE NOW A

s the year comes to an end it is important not just to count our losses and extract lessons from them, but more rewarding to be thankful to God for our modest achievements. Though the sail will always have a cycle of challenging periods, we have weathered many storms; though there are s ll miles uncovered, we have achieved milestones; though there are s ll many rivers to cross, we celebrate new horizons. 4

Our hopes are high for the year ahead. Despite our fron ers of new businesses, expansion and investment that weighed heavily on our cash flow, we are s ll revenue-strong with an improved capital structure and addi onal equity. With these projects coming through the gesta on period to full term, we are op mis c for a solid new year. One of our major foci for 2013 is to ensure that our business units are able to stand on their own to generate revenues and support the group vision of crea ng 500,000 jobs. In 2013, OML 42 development projects will be op mized. With 15 years lease extension secured for Kidney Island, CPTL has entered the second phase of development and is on the way to becoming a major logis cs company offering services to organiza ons opera ng in the eastern areas of the country and abroad. On our global expansion, we are very hopeful that Sudan will become a very interes ng market for us along side Brunei and Mexico. We have advanced discussions on Gas Plus Synergy and iden fied many new areas where we can add value and bring new businesses to it. Global Manning has been restructured and reposi oned to take on the huge task of unlocking the prospects in the oil and gas sector, as well as in others. We are reasser ng the vision of Global Manning Resources Ltd which will further posi on them as the core manpower provision agency for CG, our target industries and the countries in which we are going to do business. The strengths of all other subsidiaries and departments would be con nually harnessed toward achieving our corporate objec ves in the New Year and beyond.

members of staff for going the mile a er the extra – for every quota each and everyone has contributed to the success of the company this year. I would like to reiterate that the prospects of the company are very bright and all indica ons are that this year's challenges will inevitably ebb sooner than later. Progress from the third quarter of the year may not have stood out like the sun on a rainy day, but we have indeed made progress with long-term benefits on many fronts. We are resolved to tapping the huge poten als of this company to the benefit of all and would not relent in finding solu ons to the shortcomings we encounter internally. Management, however, cannot do this alone. All members of staff must play their role to make Century Group an enviable industrial group. I therefore enjoin you all to keep the posi ve spirit alive. Let's not be dampened by our challenges but, rather celebrate gra tude in the big and small. Let's be grateful for the challenging mes we've had because they'll make us stronger. For this and many more, we have a thousand reasons to smile. This is what we are and now is the moment. I wish you all a wonderful fes ve season. Please stay healthy and safe, and I look forward to seeing us all back in 2013. Long live the Century Group.

We thank the management team and all

C O M P A N Y N E W S

Armada Perdana C E L E B R A T E S

YEARS

WITHOUT

LTI

CONGRATULATIONS! 6

C O M P A N Y N E W S

AOW

Century Bumi Limited makes a good showing at the 2012 Africa Oil Week

he premier industry event which was held from the 29th of October to the 2nd of November focused on the African's por olio and provided insight into future trends and challenge in African upstream explora on and development. About 1,000 delegates and exhibitors were in a endance, including the Century Group/BAB team. Topics on which presenta ons were made included: 'Africa's Giant Plays & Opportuni es'; 'Africa's Emerging Fron ers'; 'Corporate Strategies in Africa's Oil & Gas'; 'Africa Future Opportuni es'; and 'Gazelles in Africa's Savannah'. Exhibi ng as Century Bumi Limited (CBL), the team played host to a horde of visitors and conference delegates who were eager to learn about CBL's services.

To gain more insight into all the papers presented, topical luncheons and panel discussions, the conference proceedings will be available for review in 2weeks. In addi on, the conference programme, books, technical journals/magazines & brochures rela ng to recent energy technological advances are available in Lagos (O.U) pending when a conference library is setup. It was yet another opportunity for Century Group to expand its knowledge of the ac vi es of the oil & gas companies; recognize the emerging trends in the African Market and take advantage of the opportuni es in line with the Company's vision & mission. Osas Uwaifo & Ike Chugbo

C O M P A N Y N E W S

Century Mandatory Training The Century Mandatory Training (CMT) was held on Monday, the 3rd of December, 2012, in Lagos and on Wednesday, the 5th of December, in Port Harcourt. The purpose of the CMT was to map out trends to help with further training and to literally test staff knowledge in three areas of the company's opera ons namely; - Human Resource (HR) func ons - Facilitated by Eno Jerry of the HR department. - Corporate Profile and work place communica on - Facilitated by Dr. Delia Nzekwu of the Corporate Affairs Dept (CAD). - The journey so far - Facilitated by Osas Uwaifo of the Business Development (BD) department.

Osas Uwaifo lecturing

Staﬀ in rapt a en on.

Staff members were divided into two groups at both offices to allow for a conducive training environment; Group 1: 8.30am - 10.45am Group 2: 11.00am – 1.15am The training commenced as scheduled and was very well a ended. The CMT was successful as the facilitators were asked lots of ques ons, which were answered sa sfactorily. On the following Monday, the 10th of December, a company-wide test on the CMT was held. The ques ons were in the objec ve format and were marked by par cipants on the spot a er the test. The ques ons were detailed and quite exhaus ve and most staff members felt confident they did very well and expect a posi ve outcome. CG employees are also glad that they now have a be er understanding of the company as a business. The CMT is scheduled to hold again next year.

Eno Jerry lecturing.

Dr Delia Nzekwu lecturing 8

H S E

CG JOGGING EXERCISE 2012

veryone wants to live a healthy life and one way to achieve this is through exercise. Jogging, which is a form of tro ng or running at a slow or leisurely pace is a great way to get into shape and stay fit. It can be done any me of the day, any day of the year, and is one of the fastest ways to physical fitness. It was with these inten ons that the HSE department, in collabora on with CAD, held a jogging exercise for all Lagos staff on Friday, the 21st of September, 2012. The aim was to imbibe a healthy, keep-fit culture and enhance bonding among staff as jogging builds confidence, relieves stress, trains the mind, improves fitness and endurance, encourages weight loss and burns abdominal fat, in addi on to many other mental and health benefits. The alarm sounded at 4pm on that Friday and staff gathered at the annex building for a warm-up exercise which was conducted by Bolanle Abu and Aderonke Coker. All members of staff were fully geared in the comfortable white branded t-shirt made specifically for this exercise. A er the warm up exercises, Idonbaa Egberipou briefly addressed staff on the route to be taken and staying safe during the exercise. Bo led water was then 9

H S E

handed to all and the exercise commenced with some staff op ng to briskly walk while others tro ed within the pace they felt comfortable in. Staff jogged from the main office building through Wole Ariyo Street to Tantalizers where they took a short break and then jogged back to the office. It was a very sunny late a ernoon and with the heat and humidity, swea ng buckets were guaranteed, and so was the inclina on to cheat, either a li le by jogging half-way through and hitching a li to the finish line or by many – simply driving to the

ﬁnish line, aligh ng from the car and feigning exhaus on. Was it fun catching the 'cheats'? Yes, it was. The exercise got good internal media coverage. RedArk and the in-house photographer took pictures and captured every moment. Staﬀ members who couldn't join this group exercise on account of work missed out greatly on the fun. The organizing team insisted that all the calories to be burned would not be replaced by greasy puf-puf, samosa, fried banana dumpling and chicken. So, back

at the office, staff had refreshments of fresh fruits, Lucozade Boost and water. The HSE department recorded zero casual es and feedback from staff was in support of making jogging a monthly ac vity. In all, the turnout was impressive and the event was a huge success. In spite of the very sore muscles and ght feet that greeted most of us through that weekend, we do look forward to the next jogging exercise.

H S E

ORAL

HYGIENE: Gateway to a healthy life T.K. ETETE | E.D. CENTURY GROUP

Welcome to another topic on simple hygiene. This me, we're looking at a subject that does not o en feature in media and public discourse on health as others. It is care of the mouth and teeth. Unlike dates marked for the observa on or celebra on of some health ma ers, not many are aware that the World Health Organisa on declares September 12 World Oral Health Day to promote oral health awareness around the world. Oral hygiene, however, must go beyond celebra ng it on a par cular date. It should be integral to our lifestyle and a daily process. Teeth and tongue need to be kept clean to prevent dental problems, such as cavi es, gingivi s, and bad breath (halitosis). While plaque, cavity, ďŹ lling and capping are more easily engaged with, this isn't so with halitosis or bad breath. Because the majority of people with halitosis do not know they have it and o en, acquaintances are too embarrassed to tell them, a certain degree of s gma sa on is a ached to it. No one likes to come up close to someone with bad breath. People would generally keep a wide distance from the speaker with halitosis or stylishly put ďŹ ngers underneath their nostrils to minimise the intensity of the foul smell. But the onus is on friends and family members to inform the person. In

addi on, we can all undertake self diagnosis by 'lightly scraping the posterior of the tongue with a plas c disposable spoon and smelling the drying residue'.

H S E Halitosis, like plaque and cavi es, can be prevented and treated but not with mint, gum, mouthwash and spray. These only temporarily mask the odour. Good dental hygiene in which paying a en on to the proper cleaning of the tongue – 'the most common loca on for mouth related halitosis', is cri cal. 'Tongue bacteria accounts for 80 to 90% of all cases of mouthrelated bad breath' and to remove this source of bad breath, the back of the tongue where bacteria and decaying food debris are present must be cleaned either with a tooth brush and /or tongue scrapper. Generally, oral care can be done through careful, frequent brushing twice a day, using the right brushing technique. This should be combined with the use of dental ﬂoss to prevent accumula on of plaque. Toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. However, we need to be weary of the following myths: 'More forceful brushing for longer periods results in cleaner teeth (Fact: apply the right technique rather than excessive pressure). Using larger quan ty of toothpaste ensures cleaner teeth. (Fact: Too much toothpaste can actually cause the abrading away of precious tooth structure. Use a dab of toothpaste plus the right brushing technique). The more expensive the toothbrush, the be er it cleans. (Fact: Choose the right toothbrush for your teeth or dental situa on. Den sts o en recommend so brushes and this has nothing to do with price but with the need to emphasize technique). Slight bleeding when brushing is normal. (Fact: This is o en an indica on that something isn't right. It could be injury from

improper brushing technique, inflamma on due to plaque accumula on, or other illness). Teeth with a filling or crown need not be flossed' (Fact: This can cause plaque accumula on, subsequently, cavi es and halitosis).' Den sts recommend that teeth be cleaned professionally at least twice yearly. This may include tooth scaling, tooth polishing, and, if tartar has accumulated, debridement which is usually followed by a fluoride treatment. The other best way to care for our teeth is by ea ng a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables par cularly rich in vitamins B and C, while limi ng foods and drinks with high sugar content. Green tea comes highly recommended because it reduces plaque, cavi es, gum disease and bad breath, and strengthens tooth enamel. Drink lots of water to clean the mouth, wash away par cles from the teeth and keep gums hydrated. A s w e m a r k H I V/A I D S m o n t h t h i s December, please remember: do not share personal items, in this case, tooth brushes as this has been proven to be one of the causes of many HIV infec ons. Abstain, do not keep mul ple partners, and use a Condom EVERYTIME. Most important of all, don't forget to get tested. Knowing your HIV status is the first step towards living a healthy life, with or without the virus. Please have a complete oral hygiene today, visit your den st!

C S E R

ODI FESTIVAL

The Odi Ogori ba Uge fes val came again on the 27th of July this year with more vibrancy than the year before. The people of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State gave a great show to mark the Odi na onal day and reign of peace. The annual week-long fete gave another opportunity to the young and old to celebrate common values, history, and cascade tradi on. The fes val which is a treasured reminder of their history as a people featured tradi onal dances, canoe racing and acroba c displays amongst other ac vi es. As a key supporter of the Odi Fes val, Century Group was there again this year to capture all those important moments in pictures. Enjoy.

C S E R

n line with Century Group corporate social responsibility and our commitment to health, the annual cancer awareness month was marked amidst an atmosphere of earnest volunteerism and team work. Although the global cancer month is October, ours flowed into November this year in order to accommodate the expanded scope of our ac vi es. In partnership with the Sebeccly Cancer Care support organiza on, Century Group carried out breast and cervical screening on female members of staff in Port Harcourt for free. As fi ng our usual cancer walk into company's calendar of events proved a challenge, the walk could not hold this year. Other cancer awareness ac vi es included: internal publicity campaign and cket sales towards raising funds for cancer sufferers under the Sebeccly cancer care organiza on. This year's theme was 'early screening, longer living' and prominence was given to prostate cancer. The theme was driven home through regular instruc ve email messages and posters pasted in the Lagos, Port Harcourt GRA and Kidney Island offices.

CANCER WEEK 2012

The CG cancer awareness ac vi es for this year came to a close with the formal presenta on of cash dona on to the beneﬁciaries who needed ﬁnancial aid to fund their treatments. The cash was handed to Dr Lola Salako, of the Sebeccly organiza on who received it on behalf of the pa ents. She expressed great thanks for our support towards their cause.

C S E R

REDCROSS HIV-AIDS DAY AWARENESS WALK

Decemeber 1 2012

S O C I A L D I A R Y

Efosa AND Gi Igbinogba 3rd Nov in Benin Chris and Ada Kooh with CG PH on 17th Nov

Benapade and Rebecca Zuokumor 11th Dec in Kenya

Joe and Queen Ogodo 10th Nov Delta state

Alex and Grace Korokeyi 5th Oct in PH

Kehinda and Dolapo Alabi 20th Oct 2012 in Lagos 16

S O C I A L D I A R Y

Chris ana Igiri - Oct 25th daughter of Amos Igiri

Han-Izon 12yrs on stage anniversary performance

Ekpovitua Saya Braide 6th OCT

CAD Birthdays Tunde 13th, Lily 17th, Delia 19th.

Jesse Egburafa son of Sarah Egburafa

Divene Favour Ebube Nwachukwu Son of Charles Keshi

Datubo and Harriet Ikiriko 10th Nov

LiteraryPage W elcome once again to the Literary Page where we bring you everything fun and exci ng in the literary world. Gone are the days when we didn't read because we considered it boring. Now we appreciate the fact that reading enriches the mind and increases our intellectual abili es while keeping us entertained. We have therefore compiled a list of books by our own pres gious Nigerian authors to help unfold your imagina on and e into experiences we can relate to. Below are brief reviews of the most talked about books of 2012. It is argued that nothing is be er for the mental, spiritual and crea ve health than reading more, so enjoy!

Remember that your CG iden ﬁca on card gives you a discount at major bookshops we have an exis ng partnership with!

Fine Boys – Eghosa Imaseun Through the eyes and experiences of the young and smart Ewaen, we're taken through the ordeal that was university life in those days; one that current undergraduates can s ll relate to. Set mostly in the University of Benin, the beauty of this narra on is how it is told with so much fun and so li le didac cism. Farad – Emmanuel Iduma Farad is a fresh narra ve woven around simple ques ons and open-ended complexi es. It is ul mately a story of the essence of love. The novel epitomises young academics, aging psychiatrists, Chris an editors, strange women and music ar stes, among others. It is told in stylish interrupted narra ves and woven into a detailed mosaic of modern Nigeria. Eyes of a Goddess – Ukamaka Olisakwe At ﬁ een, Njideka is caught in the deep poli cal turmoil beleaguering Nigeria. When the government arrests and tortures her father following a peaceful protest, he returns home a shadow of himself: a changed man. Njideka's family begins to fall apart under the yoke of a reckless regime. It is a story of hardship, abuse, and the resilient spirit of those desperate to breathe the air of freedom.

Bonfires of the gods – Andrew Oki This novel tells the heartrending fic ous accounts of the real life experiences of people who suffered great losses during the violent outrage and one of the most unexpected and irrelevant wars the world had ever seen, throwing a once peaceful and lovable city into massive chaos. The novel is set in the backdrop of the IjawItsekiri ethnic clash of 1997 in the city of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. “Bonfires of the gods” is a story of love and hate, life and death, and a quest for survival in one's own homeland.

The Funeral Did Not End – Sylva Nze Ifedigbo 'The Funeral Did Not End' is a collec on of twenty stories that peer into the fabric of the Nigerian Society, oﬀering a deligh ul insight into the everyday life of Nigerians. The writer has successfully merged his penchant for social commentary with his capacity for observing that same society with a keen eye and mind that understand perfectly well, how to nego ate the mee ng point of the sublime and the mundane. The stories ques on our poli cs, our humanity and our reason for being, while holding you in suspense and awe.

May the timeless message of this season ďŹ ll your hearts and homes with joy today and throughout the new year

Seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greetings

from the

Century Group