Petroleum Minister Bags Award as PTI Graduates 1,086

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has been honoured by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) during its graduation ceremony recently.

The PTI, established by Act No. 37 of 1972 as amended by Act No. 2 of 1973 and PTI CAP P16 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, is mandated to produce skilled technical manpower for the Nigerian oil and gas industry, arrange conferences, seminars for oil production.

The Chief Executive Officer of PTI, Professor Sunny Iyuke, who briefed journalists, said the minister was honoured with the ‘PTI Life Recognition Award’ for his invaluable contributions to the development of the institute and the oil and gas sector.

He said a total of 1,086 technologists and technicians were awarded the Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and the PTI General Certificates.

Iyuke said of the number, 53 passed with distinctions, while

356 bagged upper credits, adding that the graduates were well groomed to international standards.

In realisation of its objectives, he said the institute has worked hard to fulfil the aim of the federal government’s content policy at the 2015 change agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari by developing and training competent manpower specifically for the oil and gas and allied companies.

“Since inception, the institute has turned over 46,000 technologists and technicians in different disciplines. The PTI is changing its focus from local certification to international certification and training bodies. The aim of the collaboration is to produce fit for purpose world class indigenous technical manpower to drive the Nigerian oil and gas industry in line with global best practice.”

The CEO highlighted several achievements of his administration since he assumed office in July 2016 to include rejiging Research and Development (R&D) to carry out industry-solution research on the nation’s refineries and allied companies; collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt to commence post HND programmes in all fields of engineering that will lead to the award of Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) to graduates of the school.

Others, He said included construction of a 300-seater theatre on the main campus; renovation of academic block; construction of a standard swimming pool at Aladja; renovation of the institute’s swimming pool abandoned for over two decades; as well as construction of a 200 metres road, among others.