Emmanuel OchayiThe Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering (CPE)) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has organised its Golden Jubilee celebrations, marking 50 years of academic excellence and contributions to the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The celebration began on Monday, October 16, 2023, with a Press Conference, where the acting Head of Department, Dr. Faith Babalola, emphasized the commitment of the department to grooming world-class graduates who can provide solutions to national problems.
Dr. Babalola, while addressing an audience of press and faculty members, went down memory lane, recalling how the department started in October 1973 with just 15 pioneer students who were admitted with “A” level certificates for a three-year Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering.
She credited successive managements, Heads of Department, and other stakeholders for their foresight and dedication, which allowed the department to grow and make notable impacts over the decades.
The department’s achievements over the years include the commencement of postgraduate programs, such as the Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1978, the introduction of Ph.D. programs in 1981, and the launch of a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in 1985.
The department also introduced a professional Masters in Process Engineering (MPE) in 2003 and admitted its first students into Petroleum and Chemical Engineering in 2002.
Dr. Babalola highlighted graduation statistics, revealing that the department has produced 2169 first degrees in Chemical Engineering, 574 in Petroleum and Gas Engineering, 66 Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) holders, 242 professional Masters in Process Engineering (MPE), 633 M.Sc. graduates, and 38 PhDs, all in Chemical Engineering.
However, amidst the jubilation, concerns were raised regarding the challenges facing the nation’s tertiary education system. Dr. Babalola lamented the poor funding, which has resulted in infrastructural decay, a lack of equipment and technology upgrades, and a reduction in staff strength due to retirement without replacement.
She called on the government to heed the calls of tertiary institutions for improved funding and autonomy. “The setbacks in the nation’s tertiary education have sabotaged some of the gains which the department would have recorded,” said Dr. Babalola.
Members of the press present at the conference also posed questions about the poor state of tertiary education in Nigeria and its impact on the department. They discussed identified areas for intervention, emphasizing the need for urgent government action to support the country’s educational institutions.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Babalola praised the commitment of the department’s staff and called on old students to seize the opportunity of the Golden Jubilee to give back to their alma mater.
An awareness walk, resembling a carnival-like procession, was held on the university campus, aiming to draw attention to the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering.
The festivities will continue with a lecture on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, titled “Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Department UNILAG: the past fifty years and looking forward.”
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