By Young Erhiurhoro
LAGOS NOVEMBER 3RD (URHOBOTODAY)-Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Warri, Delta state graduated no fewer than 1,086 students graduated in this year.
The graduation ceremony which was held on Saturday 27th, October, 2018 at the school Conference Centre drew together creme de la creme in the Nigerian society especially from the oil and gas industry, traditional rulers, academics, captains of industries, parents/guardians, government functionaries, friends and partners among others.
Presenting his address during the graduation ceremony, the Principal/Chief Executive of PTI, Professor Sunny Iyuke appreciated Minister of State, Petroleum resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for his love, advice and regular support to the institute and his exemplary leadership in the petroleum ministry and the country’s economy.
“I wish to sincerely appreciate our boss, the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for his love, advice, and continued support to the institute,” the principal said.
Speaking further, Professor Iyuke enumerated some of the challenges confronting the school as follows : poor students industrial attachment programme, inadequate funding and infrastructural development. The principal of the institute therefore appealed to International Oil Corporations (IOCs) to accept PTI students for SIWES programme.
He also appealed to the federal government to attend to the needs of the institute as fast as possible, since according to the principal, the institute is mandated to provide technical manpower to the oil/gas sector of the country. He therefore felicitated with all the graduands.
In his address, the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu who was ably represented in the event by a director in the ministry, said,
“The federal government is increasing attention to the eradication of gas flaring, utilization and monetization of the abundant gas resources of the country. The country, however, lacks critical manpower in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the gas industry. This institute is pivotal towards building formal and informal competency through Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) programme that is conspicuously provided for in the policy.” The Minister said.
He advised the grandaunts to always defend and protect the name of the institute wherever they may find themselves in the oil industry.
The academic event ended with the presentation of National Diplomas, Higher National Diplomas and Certificates to deserving graduands by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institute, ably assisted by the principal and the representative of the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources. Awards and Prizes were also presented to the best graduating students in each of the departments in the institute. However, the overall best graduating student was Okenwa Chidinma David, ND, Mechanical Engineering Technology with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.88 (Distinction). In all, a total of four hundred graduates were awarded National Diplomas, six hundred and thirty nine graduates were awarded Higher National Diplomas while forty seven graduates were awarded PTI general welding certificates. Out of which, fifty three students graduated with Distinction while three hundred and fifty six graduated with Upper Credit.