The Rivers State University held a lecture on Thursday, 2nd December 2021, as part of its 33rd convocation ceremony. The convocation lecture featured the Group Managing Director of PE Energy Limited, Mr. Daere Akobo as a special guest for the second time. Mr. Akobo, who is also a distinguished and valuable alumnus of the university is continuing his demonstration of love and commitment to the development of his Alma matter. Aside donating equipment to the university, he is also instrumental in providing sectorial linkage between the academia and the oil and gas industry, currently linking the Rivers State University to a Chinese company for the provision of technology for the institution.
In his remark at the convocation lecture, Mr. Akobo commended the effort of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, in developing the university and tagged the Governor a “state capacity developer”. Adding that the educational system provides key inputs to the national sector, Mr. Akobo also challenged the Academia to take advantage of the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD ACT 2010) and its attendant provisions of Research and Development to enable the closure of the gap on Research and Development in the nation and contribute to the commercialization purposes driven by the recently launched NCDMB’s $50m Research & Development Fund.
This laudable event was graced by the public, as well as the Group Executive Director of NNPC, Mr. Adokiye Tombomieye, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, and several professors and vice chancellors from both the host institution and other institutions in the country.