N93B PTDF: PTI Optimistic on awarding B. Tech Degrees to ensure facilities' usage ...as it matriculates 1896

By Elo Edremoda 


To ensure maximum use of its facilities and equipments, the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), is optimistic that soonest, it may start awarding Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech), instead of the Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates it currently issues to its graduates.

Speaking to journalists Friday, at the end of the matriculation ceremony of Full Time and School of Industrial Continuing Education students of 2018/2019 academic session, held at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun, Delta state, the PTI principal, Professor Sunny Iyuke, explained that with such accreditation, PTI graduates will have both middle and high skills and will be accepted in any part of the world.

The school, according to its boss was provided facilities and equipments estimated at N93 billion by the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF). However, it is yet to put them (facilities) to total usage as expected of the upgrade programme.

Prof Iyuke stated that a proposal on the matter will be made available to its governing council and then, the National University Commission (NUC) for consideration, emphasizing that HND certificates are neither recognized or issued in most countries across the globe.

He noted that the "disparity" between HND and university graduates in employment places will be settled, once reports making the rounds that polytechnics will be affiliated to universities to issue B. Tech instead of HND, are seen through.

"I'm sure our students will like it, instead of coming out with HND, not that it is not good, they come out with B. Tech, they will be bolder, they will appreciate themselves more and of course, that again will give us the opportunity to use the huge facility and huge amount of money the PTDF has spent in the institute.

"If you remember, PTDF came up with an upgrade programme, where they bought so many equipments worth, I'm not sure, but about N93 billion to the institute. Now, we are not able to use all of them. 

"If we were giving PHD for example, I know we will use all of them, but we are not there. With B. Tech, we will put all the facilities to use. That becomes the educational pathway for PTI and every other thing plugs in," Prof. Iyuke said.

Asked whether the duration of the courses may be affected, the professor said the time will be the same, explaining that the students are admitted through the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) and already, spend five years to get HND certificates, just like every standard engineering programme in universities.

He pointed out that the institute will however, "redraw its curriculum" which will be slightly different from what it has been doing, adding that the nature of the final year project will change. 

"At the moment, it is purely just HND which is very mechanical. Now, it will be mechanical and some level of science. They have the science, you just ask the students to put it into the project and it is fully Bachelor.

The principal in his address said the institute is not lagging behind in keeping with global trends, revealing that it is pursuing a digitization project called DiPTI, which will develop skilled personnel to create wealth and be employers of labour.

About 2,800 candidates reportedly applied for admission into National Diploma (ND), HND and other certificates programmes, but only 1,896 were admitted.

One of the students, Iwerumor Jonathan of Electrical/ Electronic Department, told Isoko Mirror that he believed PTI "has the capacity to bring out the best" in him.

He however noted that since inception, lecturers have kept assignments and reports writing coming, adding even though "it has not been easy, it will make us become better engineers and make me work to my full potentials."