Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), has asked the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) to commence academic activities at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK).
The minister said this on Tuesday during a working visit to the institution.
Lokpobiri who was amazed by the state of the art facilities at the school, asked the management of the PTDF to start with the facilities that are already completed.
“I don’t want you to wait for all those projects to be completed before you start.
“Already what you have is enough for this institution to take off”, the minister said.
He assured the management of the PTDF of his support to ensure the take off the the institution.
“I am always ready to give whatever support that you may need to ensure that things are done smoothly within the framework of the law in an expeditious manner to maximise the benefits that PTDF can bring to our society. He said, “This is a global standard facility that we shouldn’t wait any longer, but to put it to real productive use for the benefits of not just Nigerians but for Africa”.
According to him, the institution will not only service the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited (NNPCL) or the oil and gas industry in Nigeria, but the entire African continent.
Commending the PTDF for a job well done, he said, “Let me on behave of the ministry of petroleum resources congratulate you for conceiving this idea, starting the construction and bringing it to this level of completion.
“I am also aware that you have a similar facility in Portharcourt which I had the privilege of visiting twice.
“But I felt that I must come here to see this one. Having come here and seen this one, the one in Portharcourt, is just like secondary school.
“This is a very proud development and I commend PTDF for doing a good job.
“Like I said, this facility can no longer wait, we need to start now, we need to consummate all the strategic partnerships we have with those universities overseas.
“Even if it is with one university, let us start and then we can continue to grow the institution from one level to the highest level…
“I am very proud of the leadership that you are providing for the PTDF together with your management.
“We will encourage NNPC, NUPRC and all government institutions and in fact the entire oil industry to patronise this facility.
“I am waiting for you to tell me everything is set so that I can duly inform the President because this project is too big to be commissioned by anybody other than the President.”
Speaking earlier, Ahmed Aminu, the PTDF Executive Secretary, said the college was established in 2009 with the aim of developing a world class institution for training of senior technical, management and executive cadre within the nation’s petroleum industry and beyond.
He said, So far 63 out of the 87 contracts awarded have been completed while 24 contracts are at various stages of completion.
He said the completed buildings and facilities include International Conference Centre, residential buildings, staff school,students’ hostel, Library, management wing and Indoor Sports Hall.
Others include shopping arcade, perimeter fencing, a Mosque, a Chapel, Dual Carriageways, Internal Road networks/drainages, parking lots, External electrical reticulation, 33KVA substation, Extension of 33KVA power line
Independent Power Generating Plants (3Nr. 1.5MVA), Sewage treatment plant, IT Backbone and Infrastructure, Boreholes, Water Treatment Plant External Water supply and Reticulation.
He said in line with the PTDF’s drive towards domesticating training programmes with a view to reducing capital flight, the Federal Executive Council in 2023, approved the issuance of a provisional licence, through the National Universities Commission (NUC) for CPESK to operate as a private post graduate university.
