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Tag: Sadeeq Mai-Bornu

  • NLNG spends N1.2B on scholarship in 20 years

    …Almost 3000 persons benefited across the country 

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), limited on Wednesday said that it has spent a whooping sum of N1.2 billion on scholarship awards for the youths in the country, since the scheme began 20 years ago.
    The Deputy Managing Director of the Gas company,  Sadeeq Mai-Bronu disclosed this at the median NLNG Scholarship day celebration, in Port Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital.
    The event was reportedly in commemoration of the company’s  interventions in education through scholarships.
    It served as a get together for old and new awardees of the scheme by the Company, just as it served as a time to take stock of the efforts of the company in the area over the given period, said Mai-Bronu.
    He said “First, NLNG has brought together the old and new beneficiaries of her various Scholarship schemes in the First NLNG’s scholars day to commemorate and celebrate our intervention in education in Nigeria. Secondly, we have brought youths together, people who are our hope for the future to give support to one another, rub minds and raise ideas on how to make the NLNG scholarship experience better.
    “We are excited because we see all sorts of possibilities in your eyes; possibilities that will engender prosperity in our great country, Nigeria. In the country at the moment, there is enormous clamour for more involvement of youths in leadership positions, both in the private and public sector, to help build our great country. The transformation of our nation cannot succeed without youths, like you, that is why NLNG continues to invest in Nigerian youths in order to secure the future of the country and help build a better Nigeria, in line with her corporate vision,” he added.
    Mai-Bornu also said NLNG started its education intervention programme for its host communities in 1998 with the Undergraduates Scholarship Scheme which was later expanded to include students from other parts of the country in 2003. He added that NLNG has awarded scholarships to 2,956 undergraduates in various universities in Nigeria.
    “The NLNG Post-Primary Scholarship started in 2012 to help high performing Primary six pupils in our host communities to access secondary education. The scheme started with 28 beneficiaries and in 2017, this number grew to 222 beneficiaries with about the sum of N800 million spent till date.
    “Twenty-six of the pioneer scholars of this scheme completed their secondary education in June this year and some have been admitted into various courses in different universities.

    Read Also: Fed Govt: No plans to sell NLNG

    “The NLNG Post Graduate Scholarship programme was put in place to support the emergence of Nigerian experts in such fields as Environmental Studies, Engineering, Management, Accountancy, Economics, Information Technology, Geology, Banking, Law and Medicine.
    “The scheme was launched in October 2012 with an annual intake of between 10 and 15 beneficiaries to study in leading universities in the United Kingdom. The value of the scholarship is between USD$45,000 and USD$67,500 per awardee each year, depending on the course of study.
    “Fifty six young Nigerians have so far benefited from this scholarship. The twelve (12) scholarships to be awarded today will bring the total number of beneficiaries of this particular programme to 68.
    “NLNG will be spending about NGN200million to cater for tuition, accommodation, living expenses and return tickets to and from UK for all beneficiaries; bringing the total expenditure on this scheme since inception to about NGN1.2 billion,” he stated.
    He said there was so much narrative around what NLNG was doing in helping to secure the Nigerian youth’s future that it was easy to lose sight of why NLNG is doing this adding that “simply put, we are investing in resources with potentials and the most promising returns. Those resources are the youths.”
    Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen shortly after  the receiving the award said it was dream come through and pledged to make the best use of the opportunity to define their future endeavours.
    Fubaratamuno Green(Advanced Mechanical Engineering) , Sherley Abe(Radiotherapy and anchology) and Chimezi Oku(Petroluem Engineering) are among the others awardees that got  the chance to go for their  Post-graduate courses in United Kingdom universities.
    They noted that NLNG is owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by NNPC (49%), Shell Gas B.V.  (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).
    NLNG offers Post-Primary, Undergraduate and Post-Graduate scholarships to students in her host communities and across the country.
  • Six authors win $200,000 NLNG prize for science, literature

    Six authors win $200,000 NLNG prize for science, literature

    The Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas ( NLNG ) on Wednesday presented 200, 000 dollars prize to six winners of its “Nigeria Prize for Science and Literature ’’.

    Ikeogu Oke emerged the winner of the Prize for Literature and received a cash prize of 100,000 dollars for his poetry ‘The Heresaid’.

    For the Nigeria Prize for Science, three works jointly won the award for the competition which has as its theme :“Innovation for Malaria Control”.

    The 100,000 dollars prize would be shared by the five authors – Dr Chukwuma Agubata, Prof. Olugbenga Mokuola, Dr Bidemi Yusuf, Dr Ikeoluwapo Ajayi and Prof. Ayodele Jegede.

    Speaking at the public presentation of the winners in Lagos, Mr Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, NLNG Deputy Managing Director, said that the prizes were aimed at bringing Nigerian scientists and authors to public attention.

    “The Nigeria Prize for Science, the Nigeria Prize for Literature and the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism sponsored by NLNG, is to celebrate excellence in scientific breakthroughs and literary accomplishments in our country.

    “At NLNG, we believe that the NLNG Science Prize will provide leaders with answers to crucial issues in development, improve the standard of living and re-energise the scientific community to seek solutions to national problems.

    “With the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Prize for Literary criticism, it is expected that the quest for a prestigious prize will improve the quality of writing, editing and proof-reading.

    “It will also have positive outcome on publishing with far-reaching positive effect on print and broadcast journalism,’’ he said.

    Read Also:  NLNG  awards $100,000 to three winners of 2017 Science Prize

    In his remarks, Prof. Ayo Banjo, Chairman, NLNG Literature Prize Advisory Board, said that Oke emerged the winner for 2017 after diligent consideration and critical, objective application of the guidelines and criteria by the judges.

    “Oke’s poetry, `The Heresaid’ was outstanding and the decision for its winning was based on its apt topicality, relevance, artistic heft and the pursuit of artistic provenance.’’

    According to Banjo,  in a world increasingly threatened by encroaching totalitarianism and even bare-faced tirany and intolerance, the wit, wisdom and message of the poetry `The Heresaid’, are infinitely crucial.

    “It is our hope and goal that the kind of vibrancy found in the collections of poetry submitted is enough vital evidence that NLNG is making unprecedented difference in the intellectual development of Nigeria.

    “The Heresaid, published by Kraft Books, employs the epic form in questioning power and freedom,’’ Banjo said.
    Also speaking at the presentation, Prof. Akpoveta Susu, Chairman, NLNG Science Prize Advisory Board, said the winners were selected after diligent consideration and critical application of guidelines and criteria.

    Susu, who was represented by Prof. Barth Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, said that due to the very high standards set, none of the entries on their own could be adjudged the winner.

    “The judges acknowledged that some entries which were believed to have significant contributions to the effective control of malaria could become better with more work in consonance with the progressive nature of science.

    “Therefore, to encourage researchers, three entries were recommended as the winners for the 2017 Nigeria prize for science.

    “The works include “Improving Home and Community Management of Malaria: Providing the Evidence Base’’ by Ikeoluwapo Ajayi, Ayodele Jegede and Bidemi Yusuf.

    “The “Multifaceted Efforts at Malaria Control in Research: Management of Malaria of Various Grades and Mapping Artemisinin Resistance’’ by Olugbenga Mokuolu also came through.

    “Another entry, “Novel Lipid Microparticles for Effective Delivery of Artemether Antimalarial Drug Using a Locally-Sourced lrvingia Fat From Nuts of lrvingia gabonensis var excels (Ogbono) by Chukwuma Agubata, also won the prize,’’ Nnaji said.

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, represented by Elizabeth Ibezim, said that the current socio-economic challenges in the country required scientific researches to solve.

    Onu commended the NLNG for promoting excellence in scientific breakthroughs as this would encourage scientists in the country.

    “Nigerian scientists have continued to demonstrate that they can defend their space and provide lasting solutions to national problems.

    “The ministry will continue to support and provide the enabling environment for organisations such as NLNG to complement government’s efforts toward promoting scientific researches in the country,’’ he said.

  • Nigeria LNG reiterates commitment to cleaner environment

    Nigeria LNG reiterates commitment to cleaner environment

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has reiterated its commitment to sustained supply of cooking gas to the local market, to boost domestic consumption and a cleaner environment.

    Mr Tony Okonedo, the company’s Manager, Media Communications, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

    Okonedo said that the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr Tony Attah, restated the commitment during a visit to key Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilities in Apapa.

    Attah said that the assurance became necessary to ensure the use of cleaner energy for the health benefit of Nigerians and for a cleaner environment, in line with the mission of the company to help to build a better Nigeria.

    According to him, NLNG is the biggest receptacle for gas in the country and its contribution has changed the game in the nation’s gas industry.

    “We have since helped in the reduction of gas flared in the country from 65% to less than 20 per cent.

    “And as part of our vision to help build a better Nigeria, we are focused on the sustained supply of LPG in a bid to deepen its usage in the country.

    “Also, to promote a healthy environment, and reduce deaths from inhalation of smoke from the combustion of dirty fuels,’’ he said.

    Attah said that the volume of LPG in the market was less than 50,000 tonnes per annum, before the NLNG intervention in 2007, and since then, deliveries have been on the increase with 262,000 tonnes delivered in 2016.

    He, however, said the total domestic consumption was at over 450,000 tonnes, adding that the company was focusing on a better environment through steady supply of LPG.

    The Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, said that there were opportunities for partnerships with Nigeria LNG and businesses, to create employment from new business opportunities, thereby reducing poverty.

    Mai-Bornu said that Nigeria LNG was the arrowhead of the Federal Government’s drive to reduce gas flared in the country and was committed to ensuring reliable supply of the product for a cleaner environment.

    On his part, Mr Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG said, “As part of NLNG’s constant advocacy in helping to build a better Nigeria, it is focusing on supply of LPG and has currently dedicated 350,000 tonnes per annum for the domestic market.

    He said that the visit of the management of NLNG was to explore new ways to enhance the flow of the product into the market, so that its price can be reduced and the product becomes easily affordable.

    “Before the intervention of Nigeria LNG in the local LPG market, the product, like all other petroleum products in the country, was imported and sold to marketers for distribution and retail supply to consumers.

  • NLNG: Omotowa hands over to Attah

    NLNG: Omotowa hands over to Attah

    The leadership transition at Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) ended at the weekend in Abuja with the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Babs Omotowa handing-over the symbolic NLNG Key to his successor, Tony Attah.

    This took place at farewell and welcome ceremony held in honour of the executives, the NLNG Key changed hands, marking the formal end and the commencement of the tenures of Omotowa and Attah respectively.

    In his farewell remarks, Omotowa noted that the NLNG is an inspiration and it is changing the narrative about Nigeria; same as Daewoo in South Korea, Mercedes in Germany, Toyota in Japan, etc., while maintaining that all hands must be together to protect this jewel.

    “It has been an amazing five years that I have been privileged to occupy the position.

    I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for leadership and support to NLNG. We met with the president last year and he gave us tremendous support. He was really concerned about the growth of the company.

    “I wished we implemented the growth programme with a Train 7 in play now. The increase in volume by 40% would have counteracted the 60% decline in crude oil price,” he said.

    Receiving the NLNG Key, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Tony Attah said that the company is committed to the construction of Train 7, saying that with the instability in the industry, the company has no choice but to grow value and competitiveness in the global LNG market.

    “Our reality today is that as a business, we are again faced with significant challenges from within and without. Fuelled mainly by oversupply and under performing global economies, international energy prices are once more travelling southwards. While domestically, the insecurity which bedevilled our industry and others several years ago will appear to be unfortunately returning to the headlines.

    “Today’s reality means that as a company which wants to continue being successful, we will most definitely have to think and act differently going forward. And I strongly believe-because I have seen it- that at Nigeria LNG we have the talent, the resources and most importantly, the will to continue to be successful and extraordinary.  Successful entrepreneurs go above and beyond in everything that they do. They, more than anyone else, know that without the right skills and the will to achieve their goals, there won’t be any ‘extra’ in their ‘ordinary’. That is what today holds for us all – the opportunity to do better than we did yesterday and the day before that. I believe that this is why today is called ‘the present’; it is a gift, and we must accept it with equal quantities of grace, appetite and commitment,” he said.

    He commended the NLNG Board of Directors, led by its chairman, Chief Dr LongJohn, for the continuing support, describing the directors as “leaders whose relentless creativity, commitment and zeal have served us tremendously well over the years, and whose qualities we look forward to benefitting from, well into the future.”

    On his predecessor, he said “anything other than success in Bab’s assignment five years ago would perhaps have meant that Nigeria would return to the top of the international gas flaring table. It would have meant that at NLNG, we would be wondering about who we are, corporate culture-wise. It would have meant that NNPC and other shareholders would have to look elsewhere for several billions of dollars in revenues over the years. It would have left Nigeria without approximately $6 billion in much needed taxes.”

    Speaking on behalf of NLNG Management and staff, the Deputy MD, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, in his remarks assured the MD of support. “Be assured that I and the rest of the NLNG family welcome you with open arms, and are ready to give you all the support which enabled your predecessor to safely excel at his job. As you already know, there is not likely to be much rest, but we wish you plenty of excitement and fulfillment in the days ahead.”

    Former MD, Omotowa, left NLNG over the weekend to join the Shell Upstream International Leadership Team as Vice President Safety and Environment (S&E) at The Hague, Netherlands.

    Recall that the NLNG is owned by four shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC (49%),  Shell Gas BV, SGBV, (25.6%), Total LNG Nigeria Limited (15%), and Eni International (N.A,) N. V. S. a. r. l (10.4%).

    The ceremony was graced by representatives of the Federal Government, Minister of Transportation, Rt Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Environment, Honourable Aisha Mohammed; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, ably represented by the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Ipalibo Banigo; members of the NLNG Board of Directors; Permanent Secretaries including that of the Ministry of Petroleum, Dr Jamila Shu’ara; Chief Executives and top of officials of key Government and private organizations, former NLNG Deputy MDs and dignitaries in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and beyond.