…. Advocates more commitment

The Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu, has said that a complete slowdown of exploration in the frontier inland basins is a set back to the quest to book additional reserves for Nigeria.

He made the assertion at the occasion of 2024 Earth Week with the theme, “Refresh and Restore the Earth: Growing a Greener Tomorrow “, organized by the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS)/Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), IBB University Students Chapter.

Professor Adamu therefore advocated for more commitment through an expedited action in the commencement of drilling in the Bida Basin, noting that since seismic data and interpretation as well as other exploration research results showed positive potential for oil and gas in the basin, more a needed to be done by the critical stakeholders.

The Vice Chancellor who spoke as the Special Guest of Honour, through the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Hassan Ibrahim, commended the Department of Geology for contributing immensely in making the University what it is today and also congratulated the students, describing the event as a great achievement.

He urged the students to embrace artificial intelligence in their academic pursuit and remain digital at all times.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Chair Professor and Head of Department of Geology and Mining, Professor Nuhu George Obaje said the Department and other Geologists have contributed significantly to frontier inland basins hydrocarbon exploration, especially to the successes achieved in the Kolmani River discoveries in the Gongola Basin of the Upper Benue Trough.

He also disclosed that the ongoing drilling program of Ebenyi-A well in Obi area of Nasarawa State is another achievement recorded by NNPC and inland basin researchers pointing out that lots of efforts are ongoing to elucidate the hydrocarbon resources in the Bida and Sokoto Basins with the hope that drilling commences soonest.

Professor Obaje maintained that the country needed more oil and gas in the face of the current high fuel prices and non-operational refineries coupled with unemployment and underemployment of graduates.

The Chair Professor paid tribute to the late Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, whom he described as a pillar in the development of IBB University, and for endowing the NNPC Professorial Chair in Basinal Studies to the institution which has brought with it the construction of the perimeter fencing of the University and the building of the Professorial Chair Office named after him.

The Head of Department requested the University Management to grant the Department of Geology and Mining a befitting departmental building that could reflect the modest achievements of the University over the years.

The Guest Lecturer, Mr. Makoji Aduku, an Entrepreneur and Co-founder of Pillar Oil Limited whose paper centered on entrepreneurship, described a Geologist as the only person who knows the earth, adding that reading Geology creates wealth, especially through entrepreneurship.

He decried the pains in being an entrepreneur and said with more perseverance success is achievable.

Mr Aduku lamented that cement production in Nigeria is yet to meet up with demands and called for more geological exploration of limestone and marble that would bring about more production.

Speaking in an opening remark, the IBB University, Lapai student chapter President of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society/ Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NMGS/NAPE), Abdullahi Jibrin described Geoscientists as experts endowed with the knowledge and capacity to explore earth’s resources for mankind in agriculture, manufacturing, construction and the rest.

He appreciated the Visitor of the University and Governor of Niger State, Honorable Umaru Mohammed Bago for his green economy initiative and thanked the University Management for creating the enabling environment for the growth of students to become seasoned geoscientists.

The opening ceremony had interactive sessions where speakers called for concerted effort to encourage explorations by geologists and miners through legitimate means.

Highlight of the occasion was presentation of gift to the Basinal Chair Professor by the Student Union Government