The inauguration and handing over of an ultra-modern building to the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria by Platform Petroleum Limited, an indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company is a boost to Nigeria’s education sector and brain trust, writes PATRICK ATUANYA
Geology is the study of the Earth, the materials of which it is made, the structure of those materials, and the processes acting upon them. It includes the study of organisms that have inhabited our planet.
An important part of geology is the study of how Earth’s materials, structures, processes and organisms have changed over time.
Geologists conduct studies that locate rocks that contain important metals, plan the mines that produce them and the methods used to remove the metals from the rocks. They do similar work to locate and produce oil, natural gas, and groundwater.
It is therefore positive for the Nigerian education system and wider economy in general when Platform Petroleum Limited, an indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company recently inaugurated and handed over an ultra-modern building to the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
The edifice known as Austin Avuru Building was built and donated to the department in honour of Austin Avuru, first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Platform Petroleum Limited and current CEO, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc who graduated from the department in 1980.
A statement by Amaechi Moshe C. I., Acting GMD, Platform Petroleum Holdings Limited, said:
“The facility which is the first CSR initiative by Platform Petroleum Limited outside of its Umutu, Delta State operation site came out of the desire of the company to support Avuru’s desire to reduce the huge infrastructural deficit at his alma mater.”
He noted that “things had gotten so bad at the Department of Geology to the extent that it was about to lose its academic accreditation.”
The new building is larger and more conducive than the old departmental building and will provide office space for lecturers as well as laboratories and lecture halls for students.
The gesture by the company is a reiteration of Platform Petroleum Limited’s commitment to creating value for the larger good of the society and the company is excited that the provision of this building will enhance quality of education for the staff and students of the Department of Geology.
The building was commissioned by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu at the occasion which was witnessed by the chairman of Platform Petroleum, Chief Dumolulu-Briggs, chairman of SEPLAT Petroleum, ABC Orjiako, Prof Sylvester Adegoke, His Royal Majesty, King Edmund Daukoru, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof James Ogbonna and the first chief executive officer, CEO, Platform Petroleum, Austin Avuru.
The Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, who spoke while receiving Avuru, King Dakoru and other members of his entourage in his office, expressed gratitude to Platform Petroleum Limited for its kind gesture.
Ozumba said that Avuru was not only unassuming but among the few Nigerians who were not “crazy for titles.” According to Ozumba, although he was being inundated with letters from former presidents, vice presidents and serving governors asking for honorary doctorate degrees from the UNN, the university on its own approached Avuru for such rare privilege but he declined.
Also speaking, Kachikwu also an UNN alumnus, commended Platform Petroleum Limited for investing in the future of the country.
The Minister congratulated the UNN community and the Geology Department, in particular, and advised that the facility should be put to judicious use.
Austin Avuru Seplat CEO noted that the completion of the building was a fulfilling accomplishment.
“Across the road you see what until today is the department of geology, certainly not befitting a, building smaller than the building that housed my department 37 years ago. It is simply not befitting. We had to put up this for the geology department,” Avuru told Businessday.
Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Chairman, Platform Petroleum said: “We are grateful also that the University of Nigeria groomed a guy like Austin Avuru and gave him to Platform and Platform is also giving him to Nigeria. So, it is some sort of symbiotic relation with Platform and the University of Nigeria (UNN).”
