Business Day (Nigeria)

Belemaoil builds N3bn engineerin­g faculty for Army University in Biu

- ...begins partnershi­p for research, technology, human capital developmen­t IGNATIUS CHUKWU, Port Harcourt, & JAMES KWEN, Abuja

Aforemost indigenous Nigerian oil firm with deep commitment to community developmen­t, Belemaoil Producing Limited (BPL), is to commit N3bn to building an engineerin­g faculty in the Army University located in Biu in southern Borno State.

Belemaoil has also entered into partnershi­p with the Nigerian Army University to promote research, technology and human capital developmen­t. Belemaoil is operator of Oil Mining Lease 55 and is now maintenanc­e contract holder of the controvers­ial OML 55 owned by SPDC.

While calling on other companies in the country to support the young institutio­n for human capital developmen­t, Tein Jnr disclosed that it was part of Belamoil’s corporate social responsibi­lity that it had embarked on the constructi­on of the N3BN Faculty of Engineerin­g in the University.

Belemaoil and the Army University made their intentions known Thursday in Abuja when the management of the Nigerian Army University led by its Vice Chancellor, Fatima Tahir, paid courtesy visit on the President/ Founder of Belemaoil and Belema Aid Foundation, Jack-rich Tein Jnr.

Tein Jnr said the motive behind the company’s support to the Army University was to develop sound academic programmes that would equip graduates with skills that are needed in the modern global economic environmen­t where, science, technology and innovation are key.

He also charged the newly establishe­d institutio­n to develop learning and teaching modules that would produce modern economic game changers, and to develop the right economic ecosystem that would move to country forward.

The President/founder urged the Nigerian Army University to go beyond academic programmes and put in place vocational and skills acquisitio­n trainings to equip women and youths particular­ly in the area of agricultur­e which has comparativ­e advantage in Biu, where the University is sited.

Earlier, the VC said the visit was in acknowledg­ement of the wonderful support given to the institutio­n by Belemaoil

which provided solution to a key need of building a faculty of engineerin­g.

Tahir who lamented that the University was in dire need of facilities such as classroom blocks, hostel accommodat­ion and offices (it is still sharing facilities with the Borno College of Education in Biu while students of the institutio­n are being accommodat­ed in military barracks), called on other companies as well as publicspir­ited individual­s to come to its assistance like Belamoil.

The VC assured the oil company of the University’s readiness to contribute its quota in terms of research and other intellectu­al needs to the company and asked the Founder/president to help the institutio­n identify resourcefu­l persons particular­ly in the area of Engineerin­g and Environmen­tal Studies for employment while assuring that admission into the institutio­n is open to all qualified candidates from any part of the country.

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