Shell Nigeria Exploration Company Limited has announced that it had donated subsea training facilities worth over $700,000, about N287.88m, to the University of Port-Harcourt in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The Managing Director, SNEPCo, Mrs Elohor Aiboni, said at the handover ceremony that she hoped the university would aid the Nigerian oil and gas industry to surpass its local content aspiration through human and capacity development initiatives funded by the company and NNPC.
Represented by SNEPCo’s social investment manager, Dr Gloria Udoh, Aiboni said, “This investment anchored on the maintenance of subsea infrastructure on Nigeria’s pioneer deep offshore field, Bonga, is expected to develop and upskill the cognitive and technical abilities of students who pass through the Offshore Technology Institute for the ultimate benefit of our industry and of our country.”
The new laboratory and software packages, according to Aiboni, would enable the Offshore Technology Institute to deliver effective training in engineering design; construction and installation of offshore and subsea structures; computer simulations; civil and construction tests; 3D printing/engravement capability; measurement/metering technology and robotics; alternative energy technologies; and data acquisition learning system.
The vice-chancellor, UNIPORT, Prof. Georgewill Onwunari, commended NNPC, SNEPCo and its co-venture partners for their goodwill to the university and canvassed more areas of collaboration between the university and its industry partners.
Onwunari was quoted as saying, “This project’s completion is timely because it latches on to the university’s leadership philosophy, which focuses on advancing education through an integrated learning environment to produce industry-ready university graduates and workforce.
“The current administration of the university places a lot of emphasis on university and industry collaboration and partnership.”
He added that the donation would enhance the achievement of the postgraduate degree-awarding Offshore Technological Institute in the practical context.
– Punch