Ben Dunno, Warri
The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, Delta, has advocated the adoption of local means of fossil fuel production as a way of reducing cost and harnessing the maximum potential of the oil sector, in order to improve the wellbeing of the people.
Pti Principal and Chief Executive officer, Dr Henry Adimula, who stated this in a speech delivered at the 2022/2023 matriculation ceremony held in Effurun, last Friday, noted that the nation stands to gain more when both local and indegeneous technology of fossil fuel production becomes operational.
Adimula urged the 1,718 matriculants, including full time and school of Continuing Education program, to rise up to the renewed pursuit of excellence as the institute sought long lasting solutions to the challenges in the petroleum industry.
According to him; “The 2022/2023 academic session marks the beginning of the post-Jubilee era of the institute. PTI celebrated 50 years of impactful existence in producing viable manpower for the oil and gas industry”.
“Fortunately, you are the first matriculants in the post-Jubilee era. I, therefore, implore all of you to rise up to the renewed pursuit of excellence as we seek long lasting solutions to the challenges in the petroleum industry,” he said.
The principal said that the process for repositioning the institute to better actualise its mandate was at the advanced stage and assured that the students would benefit immensely from it when fully implemented.
He also said that the institute’s focus for its post-jubilee era was to integrate its hands-on training model with greater emphasis on creativity and innovation.
“I hereby call on all staff and students of the PTI to be ready for this new shift in our training model.
“Students projects and staff research groups will be tailored toward solving particular problems in the industry and our immediate environment,” he said.
Adimula further said that the vision of PTI was to become the leading oil and gas technology institute in Africa.
He added that the mission was to provide competent technological human resources through quality training, research and consultancy for the oil and gas and allied industry.
The principal said that the institute had been working in line with its vision and mission in the past 50 years.
He assured that the institute had the best workshop, well equipped laboratories, training equipment and facilities in the sub-Saharan Africa.
The principal said that PTI was a centre of excellence in the petroleum industry in Nigeria, adding that it provided leadership, best practices, research, support and training for the petroleum industry.
Adimula therefore urged the students to adhere strictly to the Institute’s academic standard as well as its rules and regulations so as not to fall short of the its requirements and rules.
He also advised the students to always follow the proper channels of communication to air their grievances.
He, however, warned the students against examination misconduct, bullying, cultism, certificate forgery, stealing, indecent dressing, physical abuse, use of drugs and misuse of social media, among others.
One of the matriculants, Mr Mrefe Oscar of the Computer Engineering Technology, told newsmen that he had great passion in building programming, adding that the passion informed his decision.
“I do a lot of programming and that passion drives me to study Computer Engineering,” he said.
Oscar said that his target was to graduate as the best student in the Institute. (NAN)