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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.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.