TotalEnergies Nigeria has urged students to cultivate a strong reading culture, describing it as an indispensable tool for personal growth, intellectual development, and national progress.

The company gave the charge during the 2025 yearly book reading and opening day programme in Lagos, hosted by TotalEnergies Deepwater District, aimed at fostering literacy and lifelong learning among young Nigerians.

The event, themed “Paragraphs, Pages, and Chapters: Unlocking the Secrets of Success Through Reading,” brought together students from various secondary schools, highlighted the transformative power of reading and self-discovery through education, linking literacy to leadership and future innovation.

Deputy Managing Director of TotalEnergies Deepwater District, Victor Bamidele, who described reading as an indispensable tool for personal growth and leadership, said: “Reading is exceptionally important, not only because of what you do, but also because you enjoy it.

A good book lingers in your mind for weeks. It shapes how you think and how you lead.” Bamidele, therefore, urged the students to develop a lifelong reading culture, adding that the discipline of reading shapes vision, empathy, and responsibility.

“In today’s world, you cannot be a leader without reading. Read widely, from literature to science, and the big book of life itself,” he further said.

General Manager, Total Country Services at TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Adesuwa Adewole, who spoke earlier, said the initiative reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to educational development and youth empowerment.

“Life is about learning. If you don’t learn, you don’t grow. Books open our minds to self-discovery. They take us beyond our environment and show us what is possible. That’s why we keep doing this every year, to help students see their potential,” she said.

She added that the programme, which has run for over a decade across Lagos and Port Harcourt, was part of TotalEnergies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to nurture curiosity and ambition among young Nigerians.

Meanwhile, representatives from 10 secondary schools participated in a spoken speech competition centred on TotalEnergies and its values. Vetland Senior Grammar School clinched the first position, followed by Doregos Private Academy in second place and Abesan Comprehensive Senior School in third place.

In his presentation, Campaign of Works Coordinator, Deepwater District, Anthony Essien, encouraged students to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). He also urged the students to join or create science and technology clubs in their schools and to use technology purposefully.