By DAYO ADESULU

In its commitment to the development of science education in Nigeria, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited(EEPNL), has conducted a five-day training programme for seven Nigerian universities under the University Assistance Programme (UAP) initiative.

The programme is aimed at developing indigenous human capacity in Nigerian universities, particularly in Geosciences, as a way of supporting youth development in the country.

The training programme tagged Train-The-Trainer Workshop, started on Monday, August 6, 2012 and ended Friday, August 10, 2012. The programme was designed to train Geosciences lecturers from the seven benefitting universities who will subsequently  impart the knowledge gained on their students and other stakeholders.

Beneficiary universities of the UAP scheme were: University of Benin, Edo State; University of Calabar, Cross River State; University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; Delta State University, Abraka; Niger-Delta University, Amasomma and Akwa Ibom State University of Technology, MkpatEnin.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Goodluck Adagbasa, Manager, Deepwater Production, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, said,“The Train-The-Trainer workshop is inline with NNPC/EEPNL’s commitment to developing indigenous human capacity in Nigerian universities, particularly in the area of Geosciences.”

He added, “We want to help empower the graduates coming out of our universities to be able to compete in the marketplace with their counterparts from other parts of the world. It is our sincere hope and belief that the better the output of the university, the more impact they will have on our business moving forward.”

In his remarks, Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi, Supervisor, Community Development, Public Affairs Department, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), representing the Manager, Public Affairs Department, NAPIMS, Mr. Kennie Obateru.