The current and graduated students of Petroleum
Training Institute, Effurun Delta State gathered in mass recently to celebrate
the institute Principal/CEO; Prof. Sunny Iyuke and his management team for a great
achievement in the institute. Gbenga Ojo reports.
A year ago, during the school fees hike in the
institute, the delegation of NANS, Ex Presidents & the present Executives
of SUG PTI visited the CEO/ Principal Prof. Iyuke and he gave the delegation his
words that in three months from that day if transformation is not noticed, that
they should shut down the Institute.
The team has been on the watch ever since, until
recently when they gathered together again to appreciate the management led by
Prof. Iyuke saying that he has delivered
on his word.
It will be recalled that during President Olusegun
Obasanjo's regime over 18billion naira was approved for the renovation of PTI,
which kept still all the activities in the institute for over 12 months in 2007.
Few months after the renovation, the institute
Students' Press body, popularly known as The Actualizer's Team (TAT) came up
with an article titled "PTI Upgrade or DownGrade?" The press body
explained in the article that the question on the lips of all the students on
campus that were sent home for one year in the name of renovation came back to
meet what they tagged "below expectation" as what they met was down
grade and not upgrade. According to the article everything moved from good to
bad. The student were reported to be wondering what the urge amount of money
was used for, because many buildings were abandoned including hostels, class
rooms, admin and many buildings left untouched. PTI moved with a great speed
from grace to grass in that year.
From that 2007 till date many Principals and Acting
Principals have ran the affairs of the institute with little or no achievement.
On the 19th
July, 2016 the federal government appointed a renowned South African based
professor of Chemical and Process Engineering, Mr Sunny Iyuke, as new principal
and Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta
State. Until his appointment, the Prof.
who came with the vision to digitalizing PTI was the Head of School of Chemical
& Metallurgical Engineering of the University of the Witwatersrand, South
Africa.
Less than two years of his stay in the Institute, The
Prof has been honored with so many awards and commendations for his great
innovations which includes:
Reconnection of the burnt 33KVA line which has led to
regular power and water supplies in the institute; uninterrupted academic
activities; commencement of National Diploma Programme in Computer science and
information technology; introduction of post HND and Masters Programme in
Petroleum Engineering; industrial peace on campus; confirmation of 159 staff
employed in 2015; revitalization of the offshore technology centre (OTC);
establishment of skill development academy centre at the osubi campus; reactivation
of research and development directorate; construction of 300 seater auditorium and road
network on campus; renovation of the ultra-modern swimming pool; renovation of male and female hostels; opening of the long abandon female NDDC hostel;
fixing of all the street lights in the school premises. Also, the additional male
hostel project that has been on hold since 2007 is now on use and the road
leading to the hostel is under massive construction.
Furthermore, renovations are going on in different
areas of the school, like the General Studies department building and
construction of the new lecture theatre.
Other achievements were mentioned by both old and
current executives that spoke with Campus Life.
"Mr principal prof. Sunny Iyuke with the one year
I spent with him in office, I must say he has achieved more than you can think
of. His coming to the institute lead to great achievements which includes;
In his two years in the office, he has conducted 2
convocation a record that had not been in the institute before.
It was the first time in over 15 years that
graduate from the institute are
mobilized for NYSC the same year they graduated due to the smooth running of
the calendar
His managerial skills have seen him manage agitations
from both students and staff amicably a record that has not been set by any
principal without protest and strike
He brought up policy that has been inclusive of the
students more than the staff in term of student’s welfare and comfort. I must
say a man like Prof Sunny Iyuke deserves more than an accolade."
Theophilus Ukuyoma, SUG president 2016/2017 academic session.
Comr Akamune Oke Stage, SUG President 2014/2015
session described it as a 'ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.' "The proof of great
leadership and transformation agent. As a passionate Student lovely Ex
President of PTI, I have being on the watch and the management led by Prof.
Iyuke have done marvelously well beyond expectation." He added.
"This is the first time according to my knowledge
that P.T.I has a great leader as
Principal after many years. Professor Sunny Iyuke brought P.T.I from a 'Thick
hole of Darkness’ of financial mismanagement, and nepotistic appointment of
directors, to the mountain top of
'Bright lights and innovations.' In my opinion, there is no room for
comparison!" Oride Christopher, SUG
President Aspirant 2017/2018.
"Prof Sunny Iyuke has been a blessing to the PTI
community since the day of his appointment as Principal/CEO of the institute.
What thrills me most is the fact that Prof Iyuke did not just come to take up
the appointment as just a job. He is passionate about it. Sometimes, during weekends, you see him,
simply dressed, taking a walk round the school, visits the students' mess when
students are viewing a match, just observes and leaves.
I believe in a few years from now, Prof Iyuke and his
management team will take PTI to a world class standard. Kudos!!" -Omosebi Adedoyin SUG Secretary General
2017/2018
"The Principal, Prof Sunny Iyuke, is a hardworking, kind hearted, innovative
and easy going man. Prof Iyuke is a
simple man who you can walk up to even outside his office and you'll be rest
assured he will listen to you. I was shocked the day I saw him at the new lab
in the school premises on a Sunday evening. He was just taking a walk and
funnily, he was alone. I went to him and
greeted him. We got talking and he told me he was going round the school to
assist what was happening. Imagine! On a weekend, he still mapped out time to
check the situation of things around the school. There and then, I knew PTI has
gotten the long awaited Messiah that will perfect all imperfections."
-Akpomudhere Maryjane SUG Welfare director, 2017/2018
"The principal, Prof. Sunny Iyuke, is a father to
all. Few times I had the opportunity to be in council chambers to discuss union
issues with the management, I see display of humility and wisdom in the way he
tackles union issues. He is a good listener, a friendly father and above all
he's visionary."
-Godwin David Okemena, Junior Chamber International,
PTI president, 2017/2018
Prof
Sunny has re-engineered the vision, mission and actualization of the essence of
PTI establishment. We hope for more positive transformation.
AFOLABI
Ajibola former Students'Press President (TAT) and Students' Care Taker
Committee Secretary General 2008/2009 session.
On this note, Comrade Stage who on behalf of PTI
community, lauds & appreciate the good works of the Prof. & his team of
immeasurable transformation, use the opportunity to indulge the management to
do more & keep the good works, and also call all leadership, individuals
& cooperate agencies to support the vision, mission and transformation
agenda of the CEO/Principal.
Ojo Gbenga Nicholas
