Sylva charges 2,297 PTI graduands to evolve ideas that’ll transform Nigeria

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has charged the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 graduands of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) to bring into the oil and gas industry new ideas, innovations and inventions that’ll transform the country.

The former governor of Bayelsa State gave the charge on Saturday at the institute’s convocation ceremony held at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State.

Sylva, who urged the graduands to continue with the confidence and brilliance they have so far exerted, çongratulated the newly-appointed Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Dr Henry Adimula, whom, he said, would achieve tremendous limestones in his tenure.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo, Sylva said with the mandate to increase crude oil production to three million barrels per day, the ministry is already producing about 1.3 million barrels per day, while it is already fixing the Port Harcourt Refinery and Petrochemical Company.

Governor of Delta State, who was represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, in his address, urged the graduands to exhibit both academic content and character in their dealings thenceforth.

“The world you are stepping into does not judge people based purely by the Cumulative Grade nt Average (CGPA) you have earned while here.

“It goes beyond that. You would be judged alongside academic credentials with the content of your character, the ideals you share, your acute understanding of the immutable concept of right and wrong, your capacity to be curious beyond the capacity of your core academic competencies.

“You will be judged by how you comport yourself; how you’re able to apply yourself to the realities of the ever-changing and the fluidity of the post-modern world.

“It is a world that will not always give you what you think you deserve, but what you demand from it,” he admonished.

In his address, Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Dr Adimula, who described the ceremony as one of joy in the annals of the institute, congratulated the graduands for being found worthy in learning and character.

Dr Adimula, who reeled out the achievements of the institution including the establishment of world-class driving school, thanked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sylva and his staff for supporting the institute.

He, however, requested urgent assistance in the areas of capacity-building for staff, upgrade of the institute’s printing press, software licences for laboratories and workshops’ equipment bought by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and research and training grants for staff.

A total of 2,297 students from the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 academic sessions were conferred with the institute’s prestigious Diplomas and Certificates.

Out of the number, 1, 408 were awarded National Diplomas, 1, 153, Higher National Diplomas and 16 graduands received the PTI General Welding Certificates, with no fewer than 161 bagged Distinctions, while 810 students graduated with Upper Credit grades.

Dignitaries at the colourful event included former General Secretary of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, representatives of various oil and gas companies and agencies, sister institutions and traditional rulers, among others.

Adetunji Olabode with a CGPA of 3.75 and Miss Peter Jose’s Vwegba of the departments of Petroleum Engineering and Natural Gas Processing Technology (PNGPD) and Petroleum Engineering and Geo-Sciences (PEG) emerged overall best graduating students in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 academic sessions, respectively.

Meanwhile, Miss Peter, who carted home no fewer than 11 prizes comprising cash, a laptop and scholarship, emerged the overall best graduating student (including the female category) with the highest CGPA of 3.93.

Speaking with our Correspondent at the sidelines of the event, Miss Peter, who’s from an average home in terms of social status, attributed her unusual feat to discipline, hardwork and prayers.

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