The idea of establishing
a full-fledged University of Oil and Gas in the oil-rich Rivers State has been described as a lofty strategy that would help in harnessing Oil and Gas potentials of the state.
Rivers State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress Party (APC), Dr Dakuku Peterside had said that he would take steps to ensure upgrading of proposed Oil and Gas Polytechnic in Bonny, to a University.
He made the promise when he visited the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, recently.
Reacting to the promise a petroleum engineer in the state, Engineer Eric Wilson said, “not minding the fact that the promise was part of election campaign, I think the idea of a University of Oil and Gas is what we need in the state.
Wilson said, “the state which boosts of high potentials in the sector deserves and desires a full-fledged oil and gas university for adequate training and research.
Expressing similar view, Adoki Jef said there are several ongoing training programmes by oil companies, various state governments and other agencies on oil-related areas and these programmes could be best handled by a full university of oil and gas.
“Such a university will have better facilities for trainings and needed research on oil and gas issues instead of proliferation, he said.
Jef, a graduate of petroleum engineering explained further that it would promote more opportunities for socio-economic development of the state.
In his own reactions, an educationist, Nwogu Johnson, said with the first refinery of the country in Port Harcourt, abundant oil and gas companies activities attracting people from all parts of the world, the idea of such a university is vital for optimal growth.
“I had expected the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to think towards establishing a University of Oil and Gas to enable the commission train indigenes of the Niger Delta region in oil and gas related fields but such idea is germane.
“I will like the promise to go beyond a political campaign promise to reality and it will help us in so many ways. At least the huge sum of money spent on foreign and local training of our youths on oil and gas could be reinvested in such a university and it would check the challenge of our people not getting job in oil firms because of the impression that they lack needed professional training.
“I know that we have programmes on petroleum studies in other universities both within and outside the state but, establishing a university of oil and gas in Rivers is the best approach to it,” he said.

Chris Oluoh