SNEPCO donates subsea training facilities to UNIPORT

27 Sep SNEPCO donates subsea training facilities to UNIPORT

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has donated multimillion naira laboratory equipment and software packages to the Offshore Technology Institute (OTI), University of Port Harcourt, as part of its Nigerian content human capital development programme delivered

The Managing Director Mrs. Elohor Aiboni, said: “The donations are aimed at strengthening advanced practical teaching and research in subsea engineering to give the students the required skills and competences for entry level jobs in the oil and gas industry.”

At the hand-over of facilities valued at over $700,000 last Thursday at the University complex, she added that they are in alignment with the Human Capacity Development Guideline of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), according to a Shell statement in Lagos.

Aiboni, represented by SNEPCo’s Social Investment Manager, Dr. Gloria Udoh, expressed optimism that with the level of investment by NNPC and SNEPCo in deep-water training via the establishment centres of excellence and donation of cutting-edge information and communication technology centres, among others, the Nigerian oil and gas industry would surpass its local content aspiration earlier than projected.

“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,” Aiboni was quoted.

She noted that with the new laboratory and software packages, the Institute is positioned to deliver effective training in Engineering Design; Construction and Installation of Offshore and Subsea Structures; Computer Simulations; Civil and Construction Tests; 3D Printing Capability; Measurement/Metering Technology and Robotics; Alternative Energy Technologies; and Data Acquisition Learning System.

Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Onwunari Georgewill, commended NNPC and SNEPCo with its co-venture partners for their goodwill to the University, and particularly to OTI, and canvassed more areas of collaboration between the Institute and its industry partners.

Georgewell said: “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.