December 15, 2017 By Yusufu S. Bangura
Petroleum Directorate and TGS-NOPEC, a geophysical company engaged in the design, acquisition, and processing of multi-client seismic surveys internationally have yesterday December, 14th 2017, donated learning equipment to the Department of Geology at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the donation ceremony, Head of Department at the Geology Department, Dr. Mustapha Thomas, said his department was facing many challenges with insufficient equipment to enable students effectively learn.
He disclosed that they have only one projector with no chemical facility, which was why he called on the Petroleum Directorate to come to their aid and help them with some geological equipment that would enable students at the department learn efficiently.
He said before the donation of the equipment, the Director of Petroleum Directorate had paid a visit to the department and facilitated the construction of a toilet facility for students, painted the department building, donated text books, one Geo- cut advanced cutter with 40 liter tank and a sum of one hundred and seventy two thousand (172,000) United State Dollars for the renovation of the building.
Also speaking was Dr. Evelyn Carew, Associate –professor and Dean of Faculty , Pure and Applied Sciences, who said the faculty at FBC is faced with lots of difficulties, stating that there is in no university in the world that can move on without equipment.
He added that he came to know about the donated equipment when the agreement was sent to the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of FBC, Professor Sahr P.T Gbamanja, to sign it, thus thanking the directorate for the donation.
She expressed hope that more could be done by other organisations.
Director General of Petroleum Directorate, Raymond Kargbo, said the donation was not unconnected to their continued recognition that accomplishing their ultimate goal of finding commercial quantities of oil and gas may not happen overnight.
He said it was important to note that oil and gas business requires a specific kind of skill and that the reality was that in some cases, they have observed that the skills set may not be readily available locally.
He said Fourah Bay College was not the only beneficiary of their donation but other institutions in the country as well benefited.
He said over 90% of the professional staff at the Petroleum Directorate did their undergraduate courses at FBC, and that a significant number of the technical team at the directorate nurtured an interest in the petroleum.
He thanked FBC for allowing the Petroleum Directorate to help shape its plan of action for the future and that the materials will be very helpful for the staff and students.