The chairman of Oriental Energy
Resources, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, has denied media reports that he
donated US$14 million to Lynn University in the United States. Rather,
the amount he donated, according to him, was $900,000.
In a statement sent to THISDAY editorial
Board Chairman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, to protest the piece, “The
Prodigal Billionaire”, published in his column of 25th May, 2016, an
official of Oriental stated that neither Indimi nor the company donated
the figure being credited to him and for which he was being vilified.
The company also listed Universities of
Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Nsukka among institutions of higher
learning in Nigeria to which Indimi and his company had extended
considerable financial support running into billions of Naira in recent
years.
Below is the full text of the statement from Oriental, endorsed by its chairman, Indimi:
“Following recent online, and media
coverage of a donation made by our Chairman, Dr Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi,
we find it necessary to provide clarity on the nature of the
relationship with Lynn University, and Oriental’s operations in and
commitment to the Niger Delta.
“Contrary to reports circulating,
neither Oriental, nor our Chairman, donated US$14 million to Lynn
University. This figure is unsubstantiated, inaccurate and misleading.
The figure jointly donated by Oriental and former partner, Afren Plc,
to Lynn University, a University from which Dr. Indimi and nine of his
children have received nine Bachelors, five Masters, and one Doctorate
degree, is $900,000.
“Oriental Energy is a proud indigenous
oil company with a steadfast commitment to investing positively and
purposefully in the communities where we have operations and beyond.
Oriental is particularly committed to fostering and supporting the
development of education and indigenous technical skills, as a
fundamental pillar for long term sustainable development. We understand
that without adequate investment in the education of the youth, there
will be no sustainable economic growth.
“This is why the organisation has, over a
four-year period, contributed billions of Naira to the communities
where we operate in Nigeria. These donations include scholarships to
beneficiaries from the Universities of Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and
Nsukka, amongst others, the development of University Of Port Harcourt’s
digital library, the re-habilitation of the University of Uyo’s
Petroleum Institute, infrastructure development in our host communities”
as well as donations towards support for Internally Displaced People in
the North East of Nigeria, and victims of terrorism.
“Oriental Energy Resources will continue
to protect its reputation and reiterate its commitment to the Nigerian
community particularly in instances like this where journalistic due
diligence would have disproved the unsubstantiated rumors.”
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