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University of Uyo launches ‘Elf Lecture Theatre’
4-Apr-2008 |
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It was a grateful University of Uyo community that rolled out the drums to celebrate the launch of an ultra modern Lecture Theatre built for the university by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) / Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited (EPNL) Joint Venture (JV) on Friday, 4-Apr-2008.
EPNL’s Deputy Managing Director (Technical), Mr. Roger Poirier, who led the company’s team to Uyo for the ceremony said the Lecture Theatre, which was built at the cost of N74million was a practical expression of the company’s genuine interest in the development of Akwa Ibom State as a host community and Nigeria.
The new purpose-built Lecture Theatre has the capacity for 500 students in addition to two lecturers’ offices; two Seminar Rooms; a Projection Room; six toilets; a Lecturers’ Platform; three stores and a Business Office. The Lecture Theatre also boasts a dedicated water borehole.
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, represented by his deputy, Engr. Patrick Ekpotu paid glowing tribute to EPNL, scoring the company high in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and challenged other oil companies operating in the region to follow EPNL’s example.
“We have other oil companies operating in Akwa Ibom, but Total is the first to undertake an imposing edifice of this kind for an institution” in the state, said an elated deputy governor.
Describing the company as a model corporate citizen, the governor restated the Akwa Ibom State Government’s request to EPNL to establish a liaison office in the state.
For EPNL’s contribution to education in Akwa Ibom State, the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Akaneren Essien announced that the university’s senate had approved the award of an honorary doctorate degree to the Managing Director / CEO, EPNL, Mr. Jacques Marraud des Grottes and three other eminent Nigerians, to be conferred on them at the university’s next convocation ceremony.
Prof. Essien commended the company for the gesture saying “the University of Uyo is indeed very grateful” adding that the initiative had the “twin effect of forging lasting partnership between the private and public sectors on the one hand and addressing the question of developing infrastructural facilities in the South-South (Niger Delta) geo-political region on the other.
“The donation of this ultra modern Lecture Theatre will go a long way in enhancing our performance in future accreditation exercises by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Professional Quality Assurance Groups.”
EPNL also won commendation from the Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Dr. M. K. Baru who described the company as “very transparent” in its dealings.
Such transparency inspires trust, Dr. Baru who was represented at the occasion by Mrs. Happiness Lemuel Ojukwu added.
In his address, Mr. Poirier explained that prior to the abrogation of the “Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy,” EPNL’s relationship with Akwa Ibom had been unofficial as the company could not recognize the state as a host because its operations in the Akwa Ibom area were all in the deep offshore.
But even before the Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy Act was signed into law, the company had carried out some projects and programmes in the state as part of its CSR commitments, he added.
Under the Nigerian constitution, oil producing states enjoy not less than 13% of all revenues accruing from oil found in their territories.
However, until the passage of the Abolition of Onshore-Offshore Oil Dichotomy Act in 2002, littoral states with offshore oil deposits did not enjoy the benefits of the 13% derivation arrangement in the sharing of oil revenue as offshore oil deposits were considered to be lying outside their territories.
Beginning from as far back as 1999, long before Akwa Ibom was legally recognized as a host state, EPNL had carried projects such as construction and renovation of school blocks and health centres, market stalls, rehabilitation of roads, award of scholarships and skills acquisition.
Even the new Engineering Lecture Theatre, which the University of Uyo has graciously named Elf Lecture Theatre, was conceived in 1999, well before the company started recognizing Akwa Ibom as a host state.
In addition to individual development interventions, EPNL still “contributes 3% of its annual budget to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), pays royalties and petroleum profit taxes to the Federal Government and Education Tax for the development of the educational sector,” Mr. Poirier added.
Cultural dances, supported by musical performances added colour to the ceremony which took place at the permanent campus of the university in a lush green environment where the new Lecture Theatre now proudly sits.
For a change, students of the university marched with placards expressing gratitude to the NNPC / EPNL Joint Venture and urged other oil companies operating in the region to emulate EPNL.
Dignitaries at the occasion include the DMD (Technical), Mr. Roger Poirier; the Executive Director, External Affairs, Mr. John Addeh; the General Manager, Sustainable Development, Mr. Vincent Nnadi and other members and Staff of the company.
Members of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council and members of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Traditional Rulers led by their Chairman, Obong Simeon Umoette, who is also the university’s landlord, also graced the occasion.
Prof. Essien led the university’s Principal Officers to the memorable event.
The slideshow below completes the story.
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