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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Professorial Chair at the Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) will train 40 researchers from different universities in the South East in modern geophysical exploration techniques.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop on Thursday, held at UNN, Prof. Olusola Ojo, the PTDF UNN Chair Holder, said that the two-day Capacity-Building and Training Workshop is designed to enhance participants’ knowledge and practical skills in modern geophysical exploration techniques.
With the theme: “High-Resolution Geophysical Exploration Techniques: Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation, (Data Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation).”
He said that participants were selected from various federal, state, and private universities in the five states that make up the South East region.
According to him, “Among the trainees we have the male and female lecturers, technical staff and postgraduate students. With this diverse and wide representation, we can only expect a maximum impact. The idea is that of train the trainers.”
Ojo urged the participants to approach the training with an open mind and a strong desire to learn.
He appreciated the PTDF for the endowment and the trust they reposed in the university and the Chair, and expressed optimism that the workshop will be intellectually stimulating, practically rewarding, and professionally enriching for the participants.
In a remark, PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof Shu’aibu Shehu-Aliyu, said that there is a growing need for professionals who can effectively use modern technologies to understand the subsurface and address real-world exploration and development challenges, as the petroleum and energy sector continues to evolve.
“This is why PTDF places such importance on human capacity development, research and innovation.
“Through initiatives such as the PTDF Professorial Chairs, we are committed to supporting our universities in developing the knowledge and skills needed to move our industry forward.
“I encourage all the lecturers and postgraduate students participating in this workshop to take full advantage of the opportunity.
“Learn, ask questions, share ideas and build connections. More importantly, let the knowledge gained here translate into better research, improved teaching and practical solutions to industry challenges,” he said.
The PTDF Executive Secretary, represented by Favour Adaure-Prince, Deputy Manager, Research and Innovation, commended the Chair Professor and the Department of Geology for putting this programme together and for their continued commitment to academic excellence and professional development.
Shehu-Aliyu assured Uanan of PTDF’s continued commitment to partnerships that would strengthen research, innovation and capacity development in Nigeria.
“I wish all participants a successful, engaging and rewarding workshop, and I look forward to the knowledge and ideas that will emerge from this programme,” he said.
Earlier in a remark while declaring the workshop open, Prof Simon Ortuanya, Vice-Chancellor, UNN, commended PTDF for the workshop as well as the scientific role PTDF has been playing in the economic and technological development of the country.
“We commend PTDF for its continuous funding of research in petroleum geology, which is very important in our energy sector development, groundwater resources development and environmental management, “he said.
The VC, who was represented by Prof Michael Onyia, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, UNN, said the university is optimistic that the workshop would be impactful and would bring more good things in geology, as the university is delighted to continue to partner with PTDF in its great work for the country,” he said.
In an interview,, Dr Amaobi Alor, PTDF facilitators for the workshop said that the participants will be trained on high-resolution airborne data, the acquisition techniques, processing techniques and interpretations, as well as how it could be deployed in search of earth resources, among others.
Alor explained that the core mandate of the PTDF is to develop indigenous human capacity, build institutional competencies, and promote petroleum technology research to meet the needs of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
