By Cletus Opukeme, Warri
Dr Henry Adebowale Adimula the Principal / Chief Executive Officer CEO of PTI has said that the institute has bridged the gap and had helped to train world standard engineers to boost the nation’s oil and Gas sector.
Adimola disclosed this at the institute during a media chat with journalists to mark the 50rh anniversary in Effurun, Warri, Delta state.
He said. “It gives me pleasure to welcome you all to the world Press Conference organised by the Institute in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Petroleum Training Institute . I must express my gratitude to you for your prompt response to our invitation and wish to appreciate the cordial relationship and mutual respect we have nurtured over
the years of our association with the fourth Estate of the realm .”
Dr Henry Adimula the PTI boss who informed the audience with an ambience of satisfaction said:
” With pleasure and excitement, I wish to announce to the Captains of the oil and gas industry and the general public both in Nigeria and beyond that the Petroleum Training Institute will be celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing the requisite human capital to the Nigeria oil and gas industry .”
Going down the memory lane he said:
” The Petroleum Training Institute was set up by enactment of Act No , 37 of 1972 and subsequently amended by Act No. 52 of 1975 and PTI CAP P16 , 2004 to provide courses of instruction , training . research in oil technology and production of technicians and technologists and such skilled personnel required for oil , gas and allied industries.
He disclosed that enshrined within the Act are added responsibilities of arranging conferences , seminars and study group relating to the field of learning as aforementioned and the performance of such other functions as in the opinion of the governing council may serve to promote the objectives of the Institute .
Dr Adimula the Academic Don who reaffirmed the commitment of PTI
to academic excellence said:
” Our vision remains to become the leading oil and gas technological Institute in Africa and our avowed mission is to provide competent technological manpower through quality training , consultancy and research for the Petroleum and Allied Industries .”
Dr Adimula While emphasizing the fact the PTI is a specialized unique Institute
he pointed out saying: ” Our core activities in the discharge of our mandate entails the proffering of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programs in Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences , Industrial Safety and Engineering Technology . Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology , Mechanical Engineering and Offshore Technology , Petroleum and Natural Gas Processing Technology . Petroleum Marketing etc”
He added : “l am delighted to inform the general public that the Institute in its vision to keep pace with technical and technological education requirement in view of emerging technologies have introduced Mechatronic Engineering and ICT Courses to our teeming student clientele .
The PTI Chiéf Executive stated further saying :
“Apart from the conventional ND and HND programs which all have a special focus on oil and gas industry in our curriculum ; the Institute also organises short booster courses for Petroleum and Allied Companies .
He pointed out that under his watch, PTI has developed it’s specialized training programs for professionals in oil and gas industries by identifying the training needs and developing concomitant training solutions for them with a spectrum of services for the oil and gas industries which include , Technical and Professional training in oil and gas technology . Specialised training in Offshore technology, Underwater operations and other Specialised training .
Dr Adimula assured industrial players and the general public that the Petroleum Training Institute is equipped with state of the art training facilities designed to offer realistic training and skilled development in Drilling Well interventions, Surface well test , Coiled tubing ,Pipe Handling and refineries operations in line with best practice.
Adimula who shed more light on the importance of PTl to Nigeria noted;
“In recognition of the significance of the Petroleum Training Institute to the nation’s economy , the Federal Government constituted a ministerial committee on PTI Repositioning ,
the mandate of the Committee is to re examine the Act establishing the Institute , assess its functions and performance in comparison to global best practice , review the existing facilities in the Institute , evaluate its funding constraints and proffer recommendations that will transform the Institute to be a leading training institute in Africa imbibing global best practice that can compete with any similar training institute in the world.”
Dr Adimula who expressed optimism
on the outcome of the report said:
” I am elated to inform you that the committee have concluded its assignment and submitted a report to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and we are optimistic that the recommendations of the committee shall achieve the aim of transforming PTI in accordance with the nation’s vision for the Institute.”
Dr Adimula who gave a catelogue of the achievements of PTI since it’s establishment said:
” This presentation will be incomplete without highlighting the acomplishments of the Petroleum Training Instinite from its establishment five decades ago till date in line with
the federal government’s local content policy on maapower development , the Institute has continued to provide training specific for the oil and gas and allied industry .”
He added ” The Institute effort has yielded positive result where expatriate technicians ( Operators and supervisors ) working in our oil and gas industry are now been replaced by trained indigenous technical power and some of the Institute’s major accomplishments entailed the following From is establishment in 1972 till date , the Institute has graduated well over 30 thousand technologists and technicians and other technical personnel in various areas in oil and gas and allied industry operations . ”
He observed with deep joy that the alumni members of PTI can be gleaned not only in Nigeria but across the globe playing major roles in the management and operations of the oil and gas and allied industry . ”
Dr Adimula stressed that the graduates
of PTI have continued to be the most preferred choice for employment in companies across sectors related and not related to the oil and gas industry by virtue of the high quality confined on them through vigorous training and education which places them at a decisive advantage over other candidates . ”
He noted that one of the most profound achievements of PTI is the fact that the
Institute was responsible for the training of the take off staff for the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company ( WRPC ) , Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company ( KRPC ) and the then Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited ( EPCL ) now Indorama Petrochemical Company . we
Dr Adimula disclosed that the Institute is equally fully engaged in the manpower development for deep offshore diving and deep offshore operations through the mounting of specialised courses in underwater operations .
He said: “In the light of the above , l am glad to inform you that the Institute had embarked upon the Divers Medic Training Program ( DMT ) for technicians engaged in underwater operations through collaboration with JFD a specialised Diving Institute in the UK , Shell Nigerian Exploration Company Limited ( SNEPCO ) and the mediation effort of NCDMB ; the agency saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance to local content policy of Government.”
Still on achievements, Adimula further stated : “As part of the countries bilateral cooperation and assistance to sister countries , the Institute trained nationals of Sao Tome and Principe , Angola , Congo and rendered consultancy services for the establishment of Petroleum Training Institutes in Ghana , Uganda among others .”
Adimula said the Institute through its Skills Development Academy ( SDA ) and entrepreneurship Centre had offered skill acquisition training to Youths in the Niger Delta Communities . Similar Training were sponsored by UNOPS and DESOPADEC . • The PTI serves as a major training centre in the federal government amnesty program . Over 1,000 ex – militants have been trained in various skills and are now gainfully employed .
He assured the Government and all relevant stakeholders tha the Institute
will continue to serve as a nucleus of Nigerian Institute of Welding , centre for Non Destructive Testing ( NDT ) and as the only offshore technology centre in the West African sub region .
He hinted that the Institute has also conducted orientation program for newly recruited staff of the erstwhile Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR ) . • The Institute Petroleum Analysis Laboratory ( PAL ) conducted Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) of the POLAKU pipe mill in Yenegoa , Bayelsa State añd many others too numerous to be mentioned.