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Tag: PTI

  • PTI becomes independent trainer, says Principal

    PTI becomes independent trainer, says Principal

    The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, will soon commence the training independently without collaborating with its partner, JFD.

    The Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Onoji broke the news at the 9th Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja.

    The Principal also said the institute trains Youths as technicians for rescue operations in deep oil operation.

    He was the lead speaker in a panel session tagged: “People, Skill and Stories Powering Africa’s Energy Future.”

    The theme was “Talent, Leadership, and Narrative for Nigeria and Africa’s 2050 Energy Goals.”

    He said, “We train  youths  as dive medic technicians  for rescue operations in deep oil operations,  deep offshore operations. We train  others. 

    “And  I can tell you that  in the next few months from now,  PTI will be training independently  without collaborating with  JFD.”

    He said the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has been instrumental to a training program that is resulting in the establishment of Diver Centre of Excellence in PTI.

    He said PTI facilities  are  internationally accredited,  especially with International Association of drilling Contractors, and  International Work Control Forum in US.  Onoji stressed that “They have accredited our facility to train Nigerians and  Africans alike.”

    PTI, said Onoji, is in collaboration with other bilateral relationship with other sister African countries,  like South Africa.

    He said the institute has trained  participants from that country and people from Angola and Benin Republic.

    He recalled that in the last few months, specifically the last quarter of 2025, PTI trained maintenance engineers from Soros refinery in neighboring Niger Republic. 

    He said PTI has different programs such as the skill development academy, noting the institute is an academy and not a school. 

    He said being an academy, it is a centre, where Youths are better trained in aspects of oil and gas operation. 

    Onoji said the institute has a functional drilling rig and a drill simulator.

    On drilling , he said 6,000 were recently trained on drilling.

    According to him, PTI has trained  over 50,000 technicians,  technologists, and professionals  that are actually required to drive the oil and gas industry.  

    He described the institute as the grandfather of the oil and gas industry when it comes to training. 

    Stressing the importance of the youth, Onoji applauded the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) slogan that says “energy today, energy tomorrow.”

    He however noted that until the youth are not well trained, there is going to be a problem.

    Calling for a well trained youth to be positioned to harness the 25 billion barrels of crude oil in Africa, he said he even in terms of energy transition, the industry has no future without the a skilful youth. 

    According to him, the African’s future is unsafe without a trained youth, which is fundamentally needed.

     He said, “Now, that’s taken in that context, it would be good that if you look at the volume of hydrocarbon in Africa, we’re at 25 billion barrels in the African continent of 2,000,000,000. In terms of gas, are talking about over 600 trillion standard cubic feet of gas. 

    “And Nigeria is about 210.5 trillion, which is more third of the gas reserves we have in Africa. Now, if these youth are not trained now, I can tell you for free that those of us who are early today will not be able to sleep with our two eyes closed. And so we need to these youth.”

  • PTI hosts first national welding road show

    PTI hosts first national welding road show

    Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, reaffirmed its leadership in Nigeria’s welding and oil and gas training sector by hosting the nation’s first-ever National Welding Road Show, showcasing innovation, skill development, and continental collaboration in modern welding technologies.

    Organized by the Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW) in collaboration with the Welding Federation (TWF) of Africa, the road show engaged PTI’s welding community in an interactive session exploring the TWF Welder Training Qualification syllabus—an African-focused framework designed to keep welders competitive and globally relevant.

    Delivering his keynote address virtually, Engr. Bijimi Gaiya Chairman of NIW’s Certification and Training Committee (CTC), applauded the enthusiasm of PTI students and described the road show as part of NIW’s “Rebuild, Reclaim, and Rebrand” initiative aimed at repositioning the welding profession.

    In her remarks, Engr. Grace Erhimona, former PTI Director and Vice Chairman of NIW CTC, commended PTI for “setting the pace yet again.” 

    She credited the institute’s success to continuous capacity-building support from agencies such as PTDF, NDDC, and NCDMB, but also drew attention to infrastructural gaps revealed during the event, especially in specialized process techniques such as gouging, buttering, and hard-facing.

    She appealed to the intervention agencies to further support PTI and sponsor its welders and instructors for future TWF Continental Welding Competitions noting the motivational and technical benefits such exposure provides.

    Speaking with journalists, Ayo Adeniyi, Executive Director of The Welding Federation, described the PTI event as “a success story that connects skills with opportunity.”

    He thanked PTI’s management, led by Engr. Dr. Samuel Onoji, as well as past directors and industry professionals including Dr. Jimba Bankole, Engr. Jerome Peter, and Engr. David Adidi, among others, for their contributions to the road show’s success.

    Adeniyi urged government intervention agencies to recognize Africa’s fast-evolving welding ecosystem and align with TWF’s ‘African Content Support Programme, which promotes research, innovation, and manpower development across the continent. 

    He appealed to PTDF, NDDC, TETFUND, and NCDMB to establish dedicated funding to enable Nigerian experts and academics to participate in the annual TWF Assemblies, held across Africa each March or April.

    He lamented that while Nigerian academics actively engage in welding research throughout the year, many are unable to attend these continental gatherings due to lack of funds or delays in their release—an issue he said continues to dampen morale within the academic welding community.

    From being the first institution dedicated solely to oil and gas manpower development, to becoming the nation’s first approved welding training body, and the first national institute to participate—and place second—in a continental welding competition, PTI continues to raise the bar.

  • PTI matriculates 1,793 students

    PTI matriculates 1,793 students

    A total of 1,793 students matriculated at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, over the weekend. 

    The new students included both full-time enrollees and those from the School of Industrial Continuing Education (Part-Time).

    In his speech, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, while noting the role of PTI in providing competent manpower for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, assured that the federal government will continue to provide infrastructural, among other support to the Institute.

    The minister noted that as the “12th largest oil producer in the world,” Nigeria depends on institutions such as the PTI for human resources in the petroleum industry.

    He said: “The Ministry of Petroleum Resources on its part shall continue to render the much-needed support to PTI through collaborations, assisting the Institute’s quest towards provisions of infrastructure and facilities to enable it to meet its obligation of training and provision of middle-level manpower for the oil and gas sector.”

    Represented by his aide in Niger Delta, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, the minister while pointing out that the oil and gas sector drives the Nigerian economy, asserted, “This implies that Nigeria needs a steady influx of competent technicians and technologists to sustain the current levels of production and ensure greater ability in harnessing our vast hydrocarbon potential.

    “Institutions such as the PTI are poised to meet this important demand through the training and graduation of men and women that are expected to play a part in this vital sector of the Nigerian economy.”

    Lokpobiri further charged the students to be committed to their academics “to succeed and become veritable candidates of dedicated personnel expected to serve in the oil and gas industry”.

    In his address, the Principal of PTI, Engr. Dr. Samuel Onoji, who administered the matriculation oath, admonished the students to adhere to the rules and regulations of the institute, otherwise face expulsion.

    He congratulated the matriculants and enjoined them to “hit the ground running” in their academic pursuit to enable them to get good grades.

    Remarking on the global climate change and energy transition discussion, he advised that they (students) develop additional skills and acquire other certifications to be able to stand out among their contemporaries.

  • PTI graduates 1,039

    THE Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State has graduated 400 National Diploma (ND) and 639 Higher National Diploma (HND) students. Forty-seven others also received General Welding Certificate.

    Of the figure, 53 students had Distinction and 356 Upper Credit.

    The Principal/Chief Executive, Prof Suny Iyuke, who broke the news at the school’s convocation, said there was reward for hard work.

    He said: “Some of you will be distinguished from your peers with special awards for academic excellence.”

    PTI, he said, would continue to deliver on its mandate by developing competent technological manpower.

    Iyuke said the institute has started a post-HND programme in Engineering and MSc in Information andTelecommunications Engineering with the first batch of interns from its partner – Interregional University of Industrial Engineering Biotechnologies and Applied Science (IRGIB African University), Cotonou, Republic of Benin -completing the programme.

    Also, he said, the institute has started the ND in Computer Science and InformationTechnology and that its Digitalisation execution was on course.

    Besides, PTI, he said, trained the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) workers and was set to obtain the ISO 9001 Certification.

    Iyuke listed the institute’s ongoing projects as the expansion of the road to the NDDC Female Hostel and the Business Centre Complex, construction of a swimming pool at the Offshore Technology and Energy Centre (OTEC), Aladja, renovation of the Conference Centre, workshops and laboratories.

    Iyuke listed completed works to include the Academic Block, the NDDC female hostel and tackling of the perennial problem on campus.

  • PTI to train 200 Amnesty beneficiaries

    The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State will train 200 beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the oil and gas sector.

    This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the PTI by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs.

    Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, said it signposts the beginning of an indelible move by the Federal Government towards attaining greater heights.

    “As far as the Presidential Amnesty Programme is concerned, signing this MOU is a clear path to enhancing the knowledge of our people and raising their lives so that they can walk tall and reach the heights of their potentials. Let us make the best of this situation; so that our people will always remember us for good while being grateful to everyone, including the Federal Government that has not set us aside. With time, we will disabuse the minds of our people so that they will know what they are living for”, Dokubo said.

    He urged Niger Delta people, particularly the youth to fully embrace the Federal Government’s developmental programmes, while assuring that the government will continue to maintain lasting peace in the Niger Delta, empower its youths and provide the requisite condition for the people live decently, besides giving the youth educational certificates.

    Head, Vocational Training at the Amnesty Office, Barrister Amazuo Berepreboga, explained that the MOU will ensure the full training of 200 students at PTI in specialised fields in the oil and gas industry, such as oil and gas drilling, instrumentation, mechanical technology, electrical technology and process technology.

    In his remarks, the Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Professor Sunny Iyuke, commended Dokubo and President Muhammadu Buhari for Federal Government’s support. ”I thank my fellow Professor and the Amnesty Office for this gesture. I came to PTI with the conviction that this is the right job I should be doing. This is the kind of things I am looking for my students, to make me happy and satisfied.”

    Iyuke, who bemoaned the high level of joblessness among Niger Delta youths, expressed hope that the MOU will not only keep them away from crime but also engage them gainfully and improve their living standards.

    He added that the MOU will also push PTI students to improvement in practical application, especially knowledge of design of modular refineries, which has already paved the way for its legalization, resulting to an increase in establishment of modular refineries and flow stations in Nigeria.

    MURPHY GANAGANA

    Special Assistant (Media) to Special Adviser to the President on Amnesty Programme and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme

     

  • 142 workers get PTI long service awards

    Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State has honoured 142 of its workers for serving for between 15 and 35 years. The event held at the institute’s Conference Complex in Effurun.

    Its Principal/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Professor Sunny E. Iyuke said the management was proud to honour the workers for their ‘’invaluable contributions’’to the development of the 44-year-old institute, adding that they were behind its numerous achievements.

    He listed these as: reconnection of the burnt 33KVA line, industrial peace on campus, confirmation of 159 workers employed in 2015, revitalisation of the Offshore Technology Centre (OTC), establishment of Skill Development Academy Centre at Osubi Campus, reactivation of the Research and Development Directorate, construction of 300-seater Auditorium and roads on campus, renovation of the ultra-modern swimming pool, hostels and academic block.

    Others, he said, were renovation of the NDDC Hostel, take off of the National Diploma Programme in Computer Science and Information Technology, introduction of Post-HND and Masters Programme in Petroleum Engineering, digitalisation of PTI (Dipti),the students’success at last year’s SPE quiz, Gold Award by SPE for PTI’s exceptional programme in industry engagement, professional development, innovations and community involvement.

    Iyuke said these achievements would not have been possible without the workers’ efforts. He urged them to rededicate themselves to their duties.

    He thanked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu for his support to PTI and the school’s Governing Council for its cooperation.

     

  • PTI graduates 1,102 students 48 with distinction

    PTI graduates 1,102 students 48 with distinction

    …Confers Fellowship on Clark, Kokori and Barigha-Amage

     

    1,102 students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta state, would on Saturday be awarded National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates on Saturday, October 7, 2017.

    The Principal of the institute, Prof Sunny Iyuke, who disclosed this to journalists at a press conference held on the institute’s campus, Effurun, yesterday, in respect of the institution’s 2017 Convocation Ceremony, also explained that 48 of the graduating students ended up with Distinctions, while another 347 students made the Upper Credit.

    Iyuke, who was accompanied by some members of the school’s management board, including the Registrar, Abubakar Tanimu, also said the institute would confer its Fellowship on three distinguished Nigerians, including Chief Edwin Clark, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange and Chief Frank Ovie Kokori.

    Iyuke also informed that a Convocation Lecture, titled ‘Youth Training Empowerment: A panacea for peace in the Niger Delta region’, would be delivered by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, as part of the convocation ceremony.

    “This year (2017), the Institute will add 1,102 graduates of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in the fields of Engineering and Sciences to the oil and gas sector, while 24 graduates will be awarded the PTI General Welding Certificates. It is my delight to announce that 48 students graduated with Upper Credits in the 2015/2016 academic session.

    “The Institute will confer PTI Fellow (fPTI) on the following eminent Nigerians in honour and recognition of their outstanding achievements in education, economy, politics and notable contribution to the oil and gas sector. They are; Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, CON; Chief (Sen.) Nimi Barigha-Amange, an alumnus of PTI and former Pro-Chancellor, FUPRE; and Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, former Secretary-General, NUPENG.

    “You will agree with me that the theme of the convocation lecture is very apt. It is intended to stem the tide of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region. It is my believe that it is only when youths are skillfully developed that the God-given wealth in the Niger Delta can be harnessed, devoid of rancor, acrimony and militancy”, he said.

  • Why we shut down school, by PTI students

    Why we shut down school, by PTI students

    Students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, have explained why they shut the school last Thursday. They said management’s failure to release money for their week and the inability to address accommodation challenges led to the protest. GBENGA OJO reports.

    It was a protest the management of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State saw coming, but nothing was done to prevent it. Last Thursday, angry students shut down the school in demonstration against what they called “poor state of accommodation and welfare”.

    For several hours, the school gate was shut by protesters, who barricaded the entrance and prevented movement in and out of the campus.The students stormed the school entrance at 6am with musical instruments and turned the passageway to a dance floor. Revolutionary songs of the late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, such as Trouble sleep, yanga go wake am, blared from the ultrasonic speakers mounted at strategic locations at the gate.

    The protest followed a warning action the previous day, during which students shunned lectures to draw attention to their plight. When the management did not respond, the Students’ Union leaders mobilised students for the early morning demonstration, blocking all the access points into the institute.

    The school employees and other visitors on appointment were turned back by the protesters, who paralysed activities in the institute. Some workers, including High Court judges living in the school staff’s quarters, were not allowed to leave the campus. Also, JSS 3 pupils writing examination were prevented from entering the school.

    The students said the protest was informed by the poor condition of living in the halls of residence, non-fumigation of the hostels and management’s refusal to release money for their 2017 Students’ Week.

    “The management has failed to provide accommodation for female students after they were made to pay N10,000 compulsory accommodation fee,” a member of Students’ Union Government (SUG) said.

    A female student, who simply gave her name as Ese, said: “We have about 15 students occupying a small room that is meant for eight people. There is also a room with capacity for 20 people, but it is being occupied by 44 students. This can lead to spread of different kinds of diseases.”

    The last straw that broke the camel’s back, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was the inability of the school to give out money for Students’ Week as it is usually done. It was gathered the management told students to go and source for money for the Week if it must hold. In response, students, it was learnt, urged the management to convert N2,000 they paid for sport for the Week’s activities. The management’s refusal led to the protest.

    “Why should we be asked to go source for money when we paid N2,000 for sports and it was itemised in our school fees? Since we didn’t participate in any sport, we told the school to convert the money for Students’ Week, but they refused,” a protester said.

    After several hours of demonstration, some management staffers, led by the Vice Principal, Mrs Emily Ahragba, were allowed into the school for a meeting with students’ leaders.

    At the meeting, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Speaker, Prosper Omosikuwe, tabled the students’ grievances before the management team.

    Responding, Mrs Ahragba said the protest was caused by misinformation among the students. She denied management did not want to release money for Students’ Week, saying the approval of the money was delayed by the absence of the Principal of the institute, who was said to be out of town.

    On the complaint about accommodation, Mrs Arhagba said: “I personally went to the hostels and felt bad when I saw many students in a room meant for eight students. We are aware students live uncomfortably in the hostel. The school principal is not happy, so also the management. We are addressing the hostel challenges, but it appears the information is not well-circulated among students.”

    The Vice Principal directed the Director of Service, Dr C.I. Oghene, to brief the students on how the management had been addressing accommodation challenges.

    Dr Oghene explained that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) donated a hostel building to the school to solve accommodation problem, but said the building had not been completed because of paucity of funds.

    He said: “Management has sent a letter to the NDDC to handover the building to the school, so that we can complete the remaining works ourselves. But, up till now, handing over has not been done. We hope everything would be in order as fast as possible, including the fumigation of hostels.”

    Deputy Director for Academics (DDA) Mr O.C. Siakpere  explained that the N2,000 itemised for sport in the school fees was not meant for Students’ Week, but for the upgrade and maintenance of the institute’s sport facilities. He condemned students’ plea for the money to be converted to mark Students’ Week.

    The Librarian, Mr R.T. Obashe also frowned at the students’ claims on the sports money. “This is really strange; it’s not done anywhere,” he said, adding: “How can management convert a money paid for sport in the school fees and give it out to students to mark their Week?”

    The peace meeting, which lasted for hours, ended with the management approving N2 million for Students’ Week. The authorities said it would be the last time the school would give out money to support Students’ Week.

    The SUG president, Theophilus Ukuoma, said the protest could have been prevented had the management shared information with students.

    He said: “Since they have approved money for our Week and also promised to put accommodation in place as soon as possible, we will hold them by their words when the time comes.”

    He said the management need not wait for students to protest before coming out with information on action being taken to address students’ plights.

     

     

     

     

  • Protesting PTI students shut down campus

    Protesting PTI students shut down campus

    The peaceful atmosphere on the campus of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta state was on Thursday shattered as angry students of the school protested alleged inhuman treatment by administration.
    The protesting students, who took over the premises of the campus from as early as 6am, locked all access into the school, sacked the private security guards manning the gates and prevented workers and other visitors from entering, thereby preventing the normal academic and commercial activities from commencing  for the day.
    The Nation gathered from some of the students who agreed to speak that the primary source of anger of the students were the unhealthy environmental conditions those staying on campus live in as well as the refusal of the school’s authority to heed demands from students.
    According to a member of the school’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), who did not want his name mentioned, besides the fact that the school’s authority had failed to provide hostel accommodation for female students and had been charged N10,000 each for accommodation.
    “Basically, what is happening right now is students’ protesting what they think is their right. Overtime, the management of the school has put us in a tight corner where we can’t express ourselves. When we resumed this session, there were many agitations but our student leadership had been able to maintain peace.
    “What led to the protest is that the female students paid an additional N10,000 to their school fee which is supposed to be for accommodation when accommodation is not available. In a room, we have about 15 female students squatting in a small room. We also have a room of 48 female students to a room. You will agree with me that diseases are rapidly spread among females.
    “The girls have been complaining but we have tried to calm them down. Several times, there is no light for practicals but we still maintain discipline. What we are doing is our right. These are three point-demands; give the female students hostels or refund the accommodation fee they have paid.
    “We live with snakes right now. Our hostels have not been fumigated and the grasses have overgrown. What we are asking the management is will any of them allow his daughters live in the kind of hostels we have in this school? There are many issues confronting us but us talking to them emotionally as their children,” the aggrieved student  said.
    Although efforts to speak with the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Brown Ukanefemoni, was unsuccessful as he was said to be on vacation, Students Affairs Officer, Joseph Ajima, who could be reached said the issue had been resolved.
    “The issue has been resolved. We are in our offices now. Do they tell you there are snakes in the hostels? Do they show you the snakes in the female hostels? Did you enter the hostel? You can come and see whether there are snakes now that the gates have been opened,” Ajima said.
  • PTI students tour The Nation, other media houses

    PTI students tour The Nation, other media houses

    To learn the rudiment of print and broadcast journalism, members of Press Club of Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, were in Lagos, last week, on excursion to five media houses.

    The campus journalists under the aegis of Actualizers’ Team visited The Nation, Encomium magazine, Raypower FM, Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) to gather knowledge on journalism.

    The Nation Online Editor, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, received the students to the company’s corporate headquarters. While conducting them round the facilities, Otufodunrin gave the press club members tips on journalism practice and code of ethics of a journalist. He also tutored the students on how to write news, feature and opinions stories. He advised the students to take advantage of CAMPUSLIFE, The Nation’s youth-focused platform, to hone their writing and journalism skills while in school.

    The student-writers moved to Encomium Magazine, where they were received by a senior reporter, Mrs Shade Wesley-Metiboguno, who represented the magazine’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kunle Bakare.

    Bakare charged the students to channel their journalism skills towards exposing corruption and misconducts on their campus. The magazine’s Deputy Editor, Mr Tade Asifat, advised the young journalists always get their facts before putting pen on paper.

    The students learnt about broadcast journalism when they visited Raypower FM, Faaji FM and AIT to round off the excursion. They also visited Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), National Stadium, and Oniru Beach for fun.

    A member of the club, Ada Nwoke, an Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology student, described the experience as “interesting” and “educative”. She said: “It is an interesting and educative tour for me. I learnt many things about journalism.”

    Another member, Prosper Osakwe, an Electrical and Electronics Engineering student, described her experience as “eye-opening”, saying: “With all I have learnt, I am considering practising journalism after my graduation.”