By Ovie Okpare
The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Effurun, Delta State, has warned new and old students of the institution to stay away from cultism and other social vices as anyone found indulging in them shall face the full wrath of the law.
It also warned students against drugs peddling, certificate forgery, examination malpractice, indecent dressing, exposure of body parts and abuse of social media within and outside the school premises during their stay in the institution.
The Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Dr. Henry Adimula gave the warning on Friday at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, during the matriculation of new students.
Adimula told the matriculants that the institution remains committed to the training of manpower for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, and urged them to take their academics seriously.
He noted that the Institute has produced over 20,000 graduates since its establishment about 50 years ago, who are today playing critical roles in the nation’s oil and gas industry.
According to him, a total of 1,267 new intakes were matriculated during the ceremony.
“I also want to congratulate the parents and guardians who guided their wards in choosing PTI as their first-choice institution for higher education. You are among the lucky ones as a total of 1,480 candidates applied for admission into the National Diploma programmes, but only 720 candidates were offered admission. For the Higher Diploma programmes, 714 candidates applied, but only 547 candidates were offered”, he said.
The PTI boss also disclosed that the institution has introduced the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) to develop, classify and recognize skills towards continuous training and building of competent hands for the oil sector.
Adimula, while paying a glowing tribute to former students of the institution including Dr. Celestine Paddy Iyamu, Dr. Excel Ukpohor and Comrade Festus Osifo for remaining good ambassadors of the PTI, he announced that the Institute will celebrate its golden jubilee this year.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, PTI has come of age. This year we shall celebrate our golden jubilee. In the last fifty (50) years we have trained over twenty thousand (20,000) students who are now in every facet of the oil, gas and allied industries in Nigeria. Let me just mention a few of our graduates who are making waves in the industry right now….Dr. Celestine Paddy Iyamu, Dr. Excel Ukpohor and Comrade Festus Osifo.
“All of these graduates started their careers in PTI, imbibed the PTI mantra of Skill, Excellence and Professionalism, and went on to become successes in their chosen fields. You too can be next Iyamu, Ukpohor, Osifo and even better than them if you show a high level of discipline, commitment and hardwork throughout your stay in the Institute.
“In order to ensure that our students study in a conducive atmosphere, we have provided facilities and amenities that are of high quality and we shall continue to improve on their quality with the provision of more funds from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Our laboratories and workshops are second to none in Nigeria. Our library is a repository of current text books, journals, and manuals and they are at the disposal of students”, Adimula further stated.
