In appreciation of its increasing service delivery capacities, the Department of Geophysics, University of Ilorin, has secured a grant of about $1.5 million by Aspen Tech Inc., a United States-based Company, to enable it expand its oil and gas-related training and research.
This development was disclosed in a memo signed by the Ag. Head of the Department, Dr Saminu Olatunji, dated August 18, 2023 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.
The grant, according to Dr Olatunji, would greatly assist the Department, whose graduates stand a better chance of employment, as it would also increase its chances during NUC and professional accreditations as well as help to attract funds and grants to the University from other supporting agencies such as TETFund, PTDF, and NNPC/ESSO, among others.
He added that the grant, which was facilitated by himself and Dr Gabriel Omolaiye, a senior research fellow at the Department, would also encourage the listing of the University and its publications on the AspenTech portal, which is accessible to all the oil companies across the world. Dr Olatunji also noted that the grant would also attract the attention of personnel from oil and gas companies to come to the institution for various postgraduate programmes.
He added that the publications from the research team would place the University of Ilorin on the global scene and can stimulate the engagement of the Department in consultancy services that would boost the University’s IGR, among other benefits.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, described the grant as a welcome development as it signposts the increasing relevance of the University at the global level.
The VC who spoke through the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, congratulated the Department of Geophysics, particularly its Head, for winning the grant for the University.
Egbewole encouraged other Departments and staff members of the University to work harder towards earning more grants for the University, saying that his administration would continue to offer necessary assistance for them to achieve their maximum potentials.
