The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr ibe kachikwu, has commended the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) over the construction of the first Nigeria Polytechnic for oil and Gas Ekowe in Bayelsa state.
Kachikwu made the commendation at the official handover of the institute to the management in Abuja on Monday.
” I am impressed by the effort of the PTDF, especially with the completion of the first Federal Polytechnic for Oil and Gas, Ekowe, Bayelsa State.
“It is something to behold and be thankful because it will help to cover the skill gap in the sector.
” It will also help to make impact on training and research in the oil and gas sector in the country,” he said
According to him, effort must be made to ensure that students produced from the institute are of high quality.
He called on the education minister to ensure full accreditation of the faculties.
He further called on the state government to help in the construction of access road to the school as it presently had water and air access
He said such step would help to get the right candidates enrol in the school.
” This is one of the effort to ensure the development of the Niger Delta and it is highly commendable,” he said.
Malam Ahmad Aminu, Acting Executive Secretary, PTDF, said the project had been on-going since 2006.
He said the construction was suspended over the years due to some community issues.
He said the institution would help to train middle level manpower in the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the project is part of the mandate of the fund to ensure adequate training for the development of the sector.
Also, Mrs Folasade Essan, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said it was the first time that an agency had been involved in the provision of infrastructure in any higher institution in the country.
” This is the first polytechnic of oil and gas in the country that will function effectively in the sector.
” This construction is fully sponsored by the PTDF, we thank you and we will like you to do more, especially with the creation of the access road to help attract the kind of students needed,” she said
She also called on the Federal Government to ensure that security was constantly beefed up in the school to avoid any kidnapping case.
She called for full equipping of the institute and said the ministry would ensure full accreditation of its programmes.
NAN
