OPEANS: Legacy of Nwoye Dynasty @35  

         BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU

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To Michael Schmidt, a staff member of FINRA’s Dispute Resolution Board with over 20 years of experience in the financial market as reviewed by Samanthan Silberstein in December 19; 2022, he postulated that some companies are just better than others.

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Giving reasons for his assertion, he said,  there are a number of attributes that make a good company stand out from the herd including name recognition, innovation, and market share, stressing that the important thing is for an investor to spot the eventual winners before they become household names.

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“The answer depends on whether you ask an accountant, an economist, a marketer, a Human Resources (HR) expert, or even the company itself. But by pulling all of those disciplines together, you generally can define a good company.”

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A guided tour by this reporter to OPEANS Nigeria Ltd  in Port-Harcourt and Warri in Rivers and Delta States, last week, precisely October 17-19, gave answers why the three key attributes make a company successful.

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Findings revealed that OPEANS which clocked 35 years of existence, this year, has against all odds maintained a competitive advantage in order to stay in business.

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“OPEANS is an acronym of O- Oliver, P- Pius, E- Egbo, A- Amurri and S-Sons”, it was learnt.

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Embarking on the tour was not an easy task for both chief host, Executive Director of OPEANS, Dr Ben Nwoye and the nine journalists on the trip. At the prevailing economic down turn, it takes a man with large heart to foot the bill of such venture while this may not be the best of time to move around in Nigeria especially the Niger-Delta region.

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The first encounter en-route to Port-Harcourt was navigating off Port-Harcourt Expressway, plying by-pass in Eche, a rural community, close to the Rivers State capital. There were more than 20 road blocks mounted by stern-looking youths.

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Earlier, at Umuahia, Abia State that prides itself as ‘God’s Own State’, one of us narrowly escaped conviction for trying to question the delay of travellers  by Mobile Court Judge. His identification card was the saving grace. Traffic offenders charged by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) face trial at the court instantly.

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At 3pm we were warmly received by our chief host who quickly gave us a sumptuous meal at his company’s canteen. Public human engagement was at its best as our host also joined in the eating, a development many saw as an honour to us.

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It was amazing to many of us stepping to the Company’s premises for the first time. Everywhere was neat and tidy with staff walking gracefully.

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One of the striking features observed by this reporter was the lively engagement between the Executive Director and his staff, so inspirational. The big line between  employers-employees relationship was not visible.

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Taking us round the company’s facilities, Dr Nwoye accompanied by his senior staff went into memory lane with nostalgia, recalling how the company began.

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His words: “Opeans was established on 16th February, 1988 by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under Registration of Business Names Act, 1961, as Opeans Enterprises Nigeria and was later incorporated under the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990 as a Limited Liability Company by shares on 14th March, 1995 with RC No. 267722 with the name, Opeans Nigeria Limited.

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“OPEANS started her first business in the same year (1988) with Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited by training SPDC Swamp/Offshore personnel on Personal Survival Swimming and Advanced Swimming/Lifesaving, Aquatic First Aid/General First Aid, certification of SPDC personnel and contractors on Survival Swimming. These services were later extended to other Oil and Gas producing and servicing companies the same year. Since then, OPEANS has been promoting safety awareness to the Oil & Gas industries.

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“We help the industry shape their working environment by making their people work safer in their working environment. We take people on a journey ensuring they have the knowledge, skills, ability and right attitude to operate safely and effectively in their workplace.

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Dr Nwoye, who demonstrated how most of the hi-tech facilities are used, said, ”Opeans had equally partnered with Secuma, a front line water sports safety expert to produce the best economically fitted and shock absorber sports helmet known to mankind. Additionally, Secuma, produced the inflatable lifejackets in use in our training centre.

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Expectedly, the journalists were curious to know how each facility works and our chief host was equal to the task.

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“With a clean and well maintained training swimming pool, training ground, conducive classrooms, training equipment and materials, we guarantee safe and conducive environment for our clients. Our facility is well equipped with modern and state of the art training equipment to give our clients a simulation of what can be encountered in a real life scenario.

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“Our trainers and instructors are qualified professionals who have been trained by professional bodies including; Royal Lifesaving Society Commonwealth, Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (RGIT) Aberdeen and OSHAcademy. We are poised to render quality, efficient and effective training to our clients.

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“We maintain a certain ratio of delegates to trainers and instructors in our theory and practical sessions to enable all participants engage in all the training activities. This way there is greater individual attention and ample time for interaction between trainees and their instructor also there is individual hands on practice during the training process”, he explained.

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On the company’s vision, he further explained: “Our vision is to be a world class provider of efficient and quality safety training service and management in Oil & Gas, maritime, transport and other occupational health sector that meet international standards.

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“Our mission is to always ensure the best possible training for all at risk.

”Responsible Growth” is the hallmark of OPEANS activities. This means a commitment to continuous improvement in the way OPEANS impacts the health, safety and environment of Oil & Gas industries in Nigeria and its communities, its employees and of course, its customers.

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Interestingly, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nwoye was also on ground in Port-Harcourt to extend his royal talks to the media men.

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The narratives of Igwe Nwoye (Paramount ruler from Amurri Ancient Kingdom in Nkanu West Local Government of Enugu State) and his sibling, Dr Ben  (Crown Prince) on how the company management had overcome storms and mountains, inspired many of us. It shows how brotherly love and affinity in a family can be employed to run a successful enterprise.

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That Igwe has retired from the company and stepped aside did not foreclosed his consultancy services.

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The harmony existing in Nwoye dynasty viz-aviz the 35 years old company is a clear testimony of Oliver Nwoye pioneering efforts coupled with managerial acumen of his brothers.

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As scheduled, the following day which was October 18, we landed at OPEANS premises located at 34, Opete Road, off, Otukutu Junction, Warri, Delta State where we were equally accorded warm reception.

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It was also a juicy story in Warri as we were shown round the company’s facilities by our chief host  after we had formally met with his staff.

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On our side, the chairman of the Enugu State Correspondebts’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lawrence Njoku of The Guardian did the introduction with permission from the Coordinator of the media and Vice Chairman of the chapel, Ignatius Okpara of African Examiner, domiciled in United States of America.

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Among the joyful tidings, this reporter took away from the visit is that no life is lost all throughout 35 years running of the indigenous training company, earning a global status.

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“One of the things that gladdens my heart is that we have not lost any life during our safety training programmes and we have continued to receive accolades from multinationals and highly placed individuals for our efficiency in project delivery”, Nwoye told reporters.