Partnership between Industry and Academia: a sure path to sustainable development

This was the message canvassed by all parties as the Board and Management of Centre of Gas, Refining and Petrochemical Engineering (CGRP) on Monday 6 June, 2022 paid a courtesy visit to Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Alasa-Eleme. The team led by the Chairman of the Board Engr. Tony U. Ogbuigwe, who himself was a former Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals of NNPC described the event as a homecoming. He expressed his delight at the successes achieved by PHRC over the years particularly the ongoing turnaround maintenance. He also highlighted the pivotal role of the organization and its activities in the socio-economic wellbeing of the nation.

On the essence of the visit, the Chairman informed the host that CGRP was established to develop high level manpower needs of the mid/downstream oil and gas industry. He described the facilities of the centre as world-class stressing that a viable partnership between the industry and academia is fundamental to growth and development of the nation. 

On his part, the Director of the Centre, Dr. Akuma Oji appreciated PHRC for its support to the centre over the years. He used the occasion to request that more industrial training opportunities be given to students of the Centre to offer them hand-on experience needed to achieve the much needed expertise. He also re-emphasized the role of the Centre in manpower training and human capital development offered through its postgraduate programmes and short courses. He equally expressed the willingness of the Centre to develop research and development solutions to the operational problem areas of refineries in Nigeria.

Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Managing Director of PHRC, the Executive Director Operations, Engr. Sheikh Mohammed expressed the delight of the staff at the opportunity reunite with one of its own. He expressed his confidence in the ability of Engr. Ogbuigwe to steer the Centre in the right direction. Furthermore, the host expressed the delight of PHRC at the activities of the Centre while stating the willingness of the organization to consider all IT requests from the Centre and to welcoming the students. He thanked the delegation for the visit and expressed his desire for more synergy between both organizations. 

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