TheCable

Platform Petroleum Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company, donated a new building to the geology department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu state, on Wednesday.

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, who is an alumnus of the institution, was a special guest at the event.

He was joined by guests like Dumo Lulu-Briggs, chairman, Platform Petroleum; ABC Orjiako, chairman, SEPLAT; Sylvester Adegoke, Bolaji Ogundare, managing director, Newcross and Edmund Daukoru, a monarch, among others.

The edifice named Austin Avuru Building was built and donated to the department in honour of 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.

Avuru graduated from the department in 1980.

A statement signed by Amaechi Moshe,  GMD Platform Petroleum Holdings Limited, said 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  Avuru’s desire to reduce the huge infrastructural deficit at his alma mater.”

He noted that things had got 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,” he said.

Chukwuma Ozumba, vice chancellor of the university, 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 would 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.