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ESSO EXPLORATION DONATES BUS, EQUIPMENT TO FUTA

ESSO EXPLORATION DONATES BUS, EQUIPMENT TO FUTA


The ongoing drive to strengthen the various academic programmes of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA received a fillip on Thursday October 2013 when the Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, EEPNL, intervened to fortify the Applied Geology and Geophysics programmes of FUTA and five other universities. The donation done under the NNPC /Esso Education and Capacity Building Investment-University Partnering Programme was held at the Black Diamond in Lagos. Each of the Universities got brand new 16 seater Toyota Hiace Bus, 60 geological hammers, 7 Brunton Compass Clinometers, 50 Silva Clinometers, 5 Sledge hammers, 10 Carmin GPS and 50 magnifying Lenses.


In his speech at the ceremony, the General Manager, Operations Technical Geosciences, EEPNL, Mr. Andrew Ejayeriese, said the UPP was initiated in order to improve the standard of Geosciences education in Nigerian Universities through the donation of top of the line fieldwork analytical equipment as well as the provision of financial aid to the Geosciences departments. He said the hope of the programme is to make significant difference in the schools and improve the quality of graduates by improving the skills of making and interpreting maps and ultimately contribute to the production of quality geological maps of the country. The deliverables from the Universities according to EEPNL include visible improvement in the quality of their graduates and preparation of map of areas of their country close to them. The maps which should be of high quality will be published by the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency.


Receiving the donation on behalf of FUTA, Professor Tolulope Akinbogun, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, praised the contributions of EEPNL to the development of Geosciences education in Nigeria saying other corporate organizations should take a cue from Esso which has consistently supported and promoted Geosciences in Nigerian Universities. Professor Akinbogun, who attended the ceremony with Dr C.T Okonkwo, Acting Head, Department of Applied Geology and Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, Principal Assistant Registrar, said the funding and support of education should not be left to the government alone. He assured officials of EEPNL that FUTA would ensure the deployment of the equipment for the use for which they were meant for.