Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has asked agencies to support education and research in universities as their corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to help develop education in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Malam Mele Kyari, gave the advice on Friday while inaugurating the Civil Engineering Department of the Bayero University, Kano.
Kyari, represented by the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services of the Company, Mrs Aisha Katagum, said the university community had remained one of the greatest institutions that transformed societies.
According to him, as a technology-driven energy company, NNPC believes that real progress can only be possible, when corporate organisations support and strengthen educational institutions.
“Educational institutions in turn, support and strengthen corporate organisations with new knowledge and better ways of delivering services to humanity,” he said.
He then stressed that only Universities had the capacity to improve the wellbeing and progress of nations, from mediaeval to modern times.
The NNPC chief also commended the leadership and members of Bayero University Community for their sustained interest and commitment in developing seasoned professionals.
Those professionals, he explained, strengthened and supported nation building across different fields of endeavour.
Kyari revealed that through strategic CSR initiatives and the informed leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari NNPC had supported the realisation of important infrastructures that support education.
In the past seven years, he said, the company had also supported research in a number of institutions of higher learning, including the modern facility inaugurated at Bayero University, Kano.
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He noted that as global energy transition continued to gain traction, the NNPC as the economic backbone and pride of the nation would continue to collaborate with Nigerian universities.
The aim would be to support meaningful research, technology development and innovation across different fields of operations, especially as NNPC transited to a fully commercial energy company of global excellence.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sagir Adamu, represented by Prof. Muhd Sani, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, commended the NNPC for the intervention.
He said that the project started many years ago, and was halted due to the death of the former Managing Director of the NNPC and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The VC appealed for more support and collaboration from the NNPC and other agencies to support education, research and development in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the project, the “NNPC Complex” was initiated on the request of the BUK in 2018, with the scope covering Engineering Design, Material Procurement and Construction.
(NAN)
