The University of Port Harcourt has marked a significant academic milestone with the official inauguration of Professor Boniface Oriji as the new occupant of the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) Professorial Chair on Gas Engineering. The event, held at the Emerald Energy Institute located in the Emmanuel Egbogah Building on the university campus, brought together key stakeholders from both the academic and petroleum sectors.
The inaugural meeting, attended by the General Manager of Research at PTDF and other members of the chair’s management committee, was convened to review the proposed work plan and budget for the chair’s activities. These deliberations reflect the PTDF’s commitment to ensuring that investments made in academic research lead to tangible innovations that address Nigeria’s pressing gas engineering challenges.
Professor Boniface Oriji, a seasoned academic and energy expert, is expected to lead the research chair with a clear mandate to drive solutions that bridge the gap between academia and the gas industry. His tenure is anticipated to focus on research that not only provides technological insights but also shapes policy, boosts local capacity, and supports Nigeria’s energy transition goals.
Speaking at the meeting, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, expressed his appreciation to PTDF for its sustained support and investment in higher education and research. He described the initiative as a significant boost to the university’s mission of fostering academic excellence and national development, adding that the chair is a strategic tool for promoting innovation and local content in the energy sector.
The PTDF Professorial Chair initiative is one of the Fund’s many interventions aimed at developing human capital in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Through this initiative, PTDF funds academic research in key institutions across the country, with the goal of generating practical, sustainable solutions to industry-specific challenges. The gas engineering focus at UNIPORT is especially important as Nigeria intensifies efforts toward utilizing natural gas as a cleaner and more viable energy source.
The meeting concluded with strong resolutions to implement the approved activities and to maintain collaboration between the university and the PTDF. Stakeholders affirmed their commitment to seeing that the outputs of the chair positively impact the industry, inform policy decisions, and train a new generation of gas engineering professionals equipped to solve real-world problems.
With the inauguration of Professor Oriji and the full backing of the PTDF, the University of Port Harcourt continues to consolidate its position as a leading institution in petroleum and energy studies in Africa. The Emerald Energy Institute, home to the new professorial chair, is poised to become a hub for cutting-edge research, academic excellence, and transformative industrial collaboration.
