From left, Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor and Kechi Okwuchi, survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash during a ‘Thank You’ visit to SPDC.
There were emotional scenes as Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives visited The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) recently to express gratitude for the medical and financial assistance the company rendered to her after the tragic incident.
Kechi, her father’s friend, Mazi Victor Okoronkwo and her aunty, Mrs. Uloma Umeano were received by Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria. Kechi, who was returning from school in Abuja to Port Harcourt, survived the crash but suffered third-degree burns. When her plight came to the notice of SPDC, the company promptly stepped in and ensured that she was air-lifted to South Africa for immediate medical attention and treatment. She later moved to the United States where she has undergone several surgeries with SPDC’s continued financial support.
Okunbor responded: “it was instinctive for us as an organisation to react the way we did as the most important thing for us then was to save and preserve lives. Even though we were not directly involved, the leadership decided that we had to intervene and do all we could as a company to help and today, I am happy we did.”
