Researchers, scholars in Chemical Engineering gather in Port Harcourt for Emenike Wami Paper Contest

Researchers in Chemical Engineering and other scholars in the field of oil and gas industry are gathering today in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, for the maiden edition (Season One) of the ‘Prof. Emenike N. Wami Paper Contest’ to advance the frontiers of research in gas utilisation and ensure Nigeria’s full utilisation of flared gas.

The contest, with theme: “Gas Utilisation in Nigeria: Constraints, Prospects and the Way Forward,” is aimed at building a new generation of technologists through motivation of young people to go into research in gas utilisation, geared towards the full utilisation of flared gas, resolving the menace of petroleum products scarcity, and job creation for the youths.

Hezekiah Nwosi, the organising committee chairman, says the contest is organised in honour of Emenike N. Wami, a professor of Chemical Engineering and an eminent scholar, researcher, and the current national president of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE), for his immeasurable contributions to the development of the nation’s oil and gas sector, and the society in general.

Nwosi says the choice of Port Harcourt as the host of the maiden edition, which would subsequently become an annual event, is influenced by the desire to start the contest from Wami’s home state.

According to Fidelis Okwu, organising committee secretary, in a statement, the programme in which students from various universities in the country are expected to deliver papers, will also proffer solutions to the logistics problems in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

He says over 35 abstracts have been received, and all the papers have met the standard of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers.

Okwu says government, policy makers, heads of institutions in the country, energy experts, professional and corporate bodies, and concerned stakeholders are to attend the conference.

Adewale Dosunmu, a professor, is the guest speaker, while the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, is the special guest of honour, and would declare the paper contest open. The event would be chaired by Peter Akpan, an engineer.