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Shell Summer School Trains 120 Undergraduates
The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) last Monday added another cap to the litany of accomplishments as its Summer School kick-started the training of 120 top petroleum engineering and geosciences undergraduates of four universities in the Niger Delta as a practical demonstration of its desire to create a pool of competent human resource base to drive the oil and gas industry in the years ahead.
Of this number, 60 petroleum engineering students began their classes on Monday, and would stay on campus till August 15, while the other 60 geosciences students would join their class on September 14 through 19, in very intensive, practical sessions accounting for a cumulative 4,500 contact hours, covering a whole semester’s work.
Speaking during the inauguration of the school at the Information and Communication Technology Centre (ICTC), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, SPDC Managing Director, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu said the 120 top performers participating in the two six-day summer schools are drawn from the host university, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
Represented at the event by the General Manager, Geosciences, Mr. Nedo Osayande, the managing director stressed that the programme was aimed at transferring industry experience to the students while at the same time bridging the academic-industry gap in curricula as a means of providing veritable platform for development of future exploration and production recruits in the industry.
He stated that the Shell staff, who constitute the faculty would provide on hands-on lectures, lead group discussions, syndicate practical and interactive sessions/exercises, and deliver practical modules in such subjects as mathematics, physics, mechanical, electrical and petroleum engineering as well as geology, geophysics, among others, adding that the initiative was strategically targeted at encouraging excellence in the four universities.
According to him, apart from the public relations benefits, the summer schools also provide significant window for talent-spotting as the industry grapples with the enormous challenges of replenishing its stock of competent reservoir engineers and other professionals in the oil and gas exploration and production environment, and promised to monitor the performance of the students for possible future employment.
Sunmonu noted that SPDC was committed to contributing to the enhancement of educational standards in exploration and production disciplines in Nigerian universities through direct transfer and impartation of practical and current industry knowledge and experience to the top performing students in the catchment universities, and assured the students of a better future in the industry, if they perform well on graduation.
An elated Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Don Baridam, while declaring the school open, lauded SPDC for collaborating with the university in this strategic initiative, particularly the introduction of geosciences summer school, saying that it would promote better interactions and more benefits to both the four universities and the participating students.
Prof Baridam listed other Shell involvements in the university to include establishment of Shell/Aret Adams chair in petroleum engineering, the donation of significant volumes of modern textbooks to both university library and the Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, the establishment of a state-of-the-art geophysics computing centre and the promise to supply more equipment to the centre as the research progresses, and requested Shell’s donation of a decommissioned Linux cluster to assist the university faculties to meet their computing needs.
The UNIPORT VC reminded the participating students that the course work was intensive, competitive and highly demanding, and said the authorities of their universities expect them to seize the rare opportunity to further expose themselves to the best industry knowledge, experience and cutting-edge technologies to prepare them for participation at higher levels of the oil and gas industry operations, especially in Shell.
The event, which collapsed into full academic session for the students, was witnessed by a cream of Shell staff and top members of the academia, including UNIPORT DVC, Academics, Prof Biozor Anyologwu, Director, UNIPORT ICT Centre, Prof Joseph Ebeniro, Director, Shell/Aret Adams Professorial Chair in Petroleum Engineering, Prof Wale Dosunmu, Director, UNIPORT Institute of Petroleum Studies, Prof Joseph Ajienka, Prof Onyewuchi Akaranta, deans, heads of departments, among others.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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