PTI flags off computer competency training for Urhobo youths

By Ochuko Etabunor,

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility CSR, the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State has flagged off Training of Technical Skills tagged; “Computer Competency Skills Acquisition” for Urhobo Youths World Wide, spreading across the 24 kingdoms of the Urhobo nations.

The Acting Principal and Chief Executive of the Petroleum Training Institute, Dr Henry Adimula in his welcome address stated that the management in this maiden edition of the programme shortlisted sixty youths drawn from the 24 kingdoms of the Urhobo nation under the auspices of the youth wing of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU.

He hinted that the programme which is part of the institute’s Corporate Social Responsibility CSR to their host communities is conceived to put participants in the right stead to be self-reliant in the face of acute unemployment and mass job loss as a result of the impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the economics of the world.

According to Dr Adimula,  PTI which was established in 1975 to train technical manpower for the oil and gas industries has lived up to expectation by carrying out the mandate for which it was established.

He stressed the need for a paradigm shift in education to competence in practical learning and the ability to apply it to provide solutions to myriads of societal problems said: ” l must emphasize that our students must be trained not only to be good for a paper certificate but to be solution providers. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plant”.

He explained that this Training Programme on Computer Competency Skills Acquisition for Youths of Urhobo Kingdom is a 100% PTI initiative to equip the youths with skills on information technology (ICT) which is fundamental in the digital business and e transact age.

Dr Agbalagba Ezekiel, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union ASU of the FUPRE who represented Prof. Rim-Ruke  Akpofure, Vice-Chancellor,  Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, as the Chairman of the occasion, commended the effort of PTI under the leadership of Dr Henry Adimula for the vision which he described as a step in the right direction.

Dr. Agbalagha Ezekiel enjoined the participants of the programme to see it as a Turning Point in their life by staying committed and dedicated so that they can spring out at the end of the training as giants in our society and in turn change others for the better.

Professor Sunny Aghwefeada a University don, who was the guest speaker and pastor Verah Orhobor a departmental head of the institute who spoke as resource persons to the participants concurred in their counsel that the participants should be Patience, adventurous, creative, innovational and be hardworking so that at the completion of the training they can become global players in their chosen endeavours.

Dr Capt. Onoharigho, the Deputy President General of UPU, who was the father of the day, in his remarks appreciated the PTl Principal, Dr Henry Adimula for the laudable idea and the track record of PTI as a reliable institute of learning.

Mr Brown Ukanefimoni the Director of Information and the moderator of the event in his speech noted that this training is the first of its kind borne out of the burning desire of the Principal to use the instruments of his good office to effect positive change in our society.