LAGOS – Platform Petroleum Limited, an indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company today, Wednesday June 28, 2017 handed over an ultra-modern building to the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The event had Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as Special guest. He was joined by other distinguished guests like Chief (Barr.) Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Chairman of Platform Petroleum, Dr. ABC Orjiako, Chairman of SEPLAT, Professor O. Sylvester Adegoke, Dr. Bolaji Ogundare, Managing Director, Newcross and HRM King Dr. Edmund M. Daukoru amongst others.
The edifice named Austin Avuru Building was built and donated to the department in honour of Mr. Austin Avuru, first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Platform Petroleum Limited and current CEO, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc who graduated from the department in 1980.
A statement signed by Mr. Amaechi Moshe C. I., Ag. GMD Platform Petroleum Holdings Limited, said that the facility “which is the first CSR initiative by Platform Petroleum Limited outside of its Umutu, Delta State, operation site came out of the desire of the company to support Mr. Avuru’s desire to reduce the huge infrastructural deficit at his alma mater.”
He noted that things had gotten so bad at the Department of Geology to the extent that it was about to lose its academic accreditation.
The new building, according to the statement, is larger and more conducive than the old departmental building and will provide office space for lecturers as well as laboratories and lecture halls for students.
The gesture by the company is a reiteration of Platform Petroleum Limited’s commitment to creating value for the larger good of the society and the company is excited that the provision of this building will enhance quality of education for the staff and students of the Department of Geology.
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba thanked the company for the support and congratulated Austin Avuru for being a worthy ambassador of the institution. He assured his guests that the university will justify the resources invested in the new building. He also enjoined other alumni to emulate Avuru and Platform Petroleum in helping to enhance the learning environment.
Also speaking, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (Minister of State Petroleum Resources), another UNN alumnus, commended Platform Petroleum Limited for investing in the future of the Country. The Honourable minister congratulated the UNN community and the Geology Department, in particular, and advised that the facility should be put to judicious use.
