PTI Canvasses For Osubi Airstrip Upgrade For Its Digital Hub Scheme

In a bid to realized the full potentials of its Digital hub programmes christened DIPTI, the management of Petroleum Institution (PTI) has called for the upgrade of the Osubi Airstrip to accommodate larger flights that would be coming to Warri, Delta state.

Principal and Chief Executive of the institution, Prof. Sunny Iyuke made the call during the 2019 pre-convocation ceremony press conference held at the institution’s council chambers on Monday.

According to him, when the DIPTI is fully implemented, “IBM for instance will have their own stand; Microsoft will have their stand as well as Google will have their stand. I think at that point everybody would be happy and I think at that point too, we should all contribute to have a better airstrip because this airstrip will not be long enough to entertain the visitors that would be coming”.

He disclosed that with the launch of the DIPTI, and computerization of the institution’s operations, students certificates from 1978 to date can now be verified at the DIPTI zone of the institution website.

According to him, the institution’s library and Digital hub or the DIPTI has been given facelift not just a “white wash” but in terms of materials needed for an institutional library.

“Facilities at the Directorate of library and Information Technology, the Digital hub of the DIPTI have been upgraded. The institute now has operational e-classroom, e-library and Tele-presence real –time video link”.

He disclosed that this year graduation ceremony schedule for Saturday 26^th, 2019, a total of 1,122 Technologist and Technicians will be awarded the Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and PTI General Certificate.

“Out of this number, 55 passed with Distinction, while 342 graduated with upper credit”, he said.

Prof. Iyuke said that PTI graduates are well developed for the work place situation with little or no in-training on the part of their employers.

He said that PTI was collaborating with Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Calgary, Canada for students exchange programme, adding that by the time the collaboration is sealed, PTI students will have the opportunity to travel to Canada for internship.

On the modular refinery license approved for the institution by the federal government, Prof. Iyuke disclosed that discussion is still ongoing with Nigerdock, it collaborators for the project adding however that two key equipment – Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS and Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) have been acquired for the Petroleum Analysis Laboratory (PAL).

“The drilling rig has been upgraded for hands-on training of Petroleum Engineering Students. On completion of the Petroleum Engineering Courses, the student will have no challenge of rig operation either onshore or offshore”, he enthused.