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Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun Completes Assembly of First Homegrown Modular Refinery, 50 Years After Establishment.
Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun Completes Assembly of First Homegrown Modular Refinery, 50 Years After Establishment.
By Anthony Beauty
Effurun, Delta State – The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), the foremost manpower development vehicle of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful construction of a modular refinery, 50 years after it building foundations were laid. This groundbreaking development is part of PTI’s commitment to advancing technology in the field of crude oil refining and addressing the challenges posed by artisanal refiners.
Located in Effurun, Delta State, PTI has not only ventured into building a modular refinery but has also taken up the mantle of training artisanal refiners in the essential skills required for responsible crude oil processing. Adebowale Adimula, the Chief Executive of PTI, unveiled this remarkable achievement during a press conference in Abuja, in anticipation of the 3rd Biennial International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science & Technology scheduled to take place in the Federal Capital Territory next week.
Mr. Adimula emphasized the institute’s primary focus on training but acknowledged the need to address the prevailing issues in the artisanal refining sector. He stated, “One of the areas that we have been looking at over the past few years is developing technologies in the modular refinery space. We are a training institution primarily, but when you look at the country today and the lack of technology among the artisanal refiners, one of the things we have done is to develop concepts.”
The PTI is not only building modular refineries but is actively involved in training individuals to ensure that their refining activities do not harm the environment. Adimula elaborated, “We also help in training the individuals so that whatever they do will not adversely affect the environment. We at the institute have built up our own. Now what is next is to scale it up, to find ways to make it commercial.”
He emphasized the importance of equipping those in the field with necessary skills, saying, “What we have today are people who know next to nothing about refining, they just go into the creeks, break pipes and begin to boil or cook oil. No, we are doing it differently by training and equipping them with the necessary skills that will make them able to contribute meaningfully to the economy.”
Adimula clarified that the PTI’s modular refinery does not compete in scale with major refineries like Dangote’s facility in Lekki, Lagos. Instead, it serves as a technology advancement initiative in the modular refinery sector. He stated, “The facility we are working on is not to create a refinery that will now be like the Dangote refineries of this world, no. Our primary focus, which we are not losing sight of, is that we are a training institution, and whatever we develop will help the advancement of technology in that space.”
The completion of this modular refinery and the institute’s dedication to training mark a significant step forward in the quest for responsible and advanced crude oil processing in Nigeria. The PTI’s efforts align with the nation’s objectives of ensuring a safer, more environmentally friendly, and economically viable approach to oil refining.
IduwiniVoice recall that this is not the first time the institute is making wave in tech. development. It remains on record that Graduating Students in collaboration with their lecturers have built pilot size automobile engine blocks, automobile, and aircrafts in the past.
Should Nigeria desire true technological growth, then the government, industry giants, and financial institutions must invest heavily in what the institution is doing in order to breach the technology gap in the country.
It is pertinent to call on regional development blocks like the BRACED Commission, NDDC, and of course the niger Delta Ministry to champion the development and deployment of this rich tech. potentials.
News
Great Loss As Family Announces The Painful Passing Iduwini-borne Billionaire Prince, Presley Gere Iyalahga
By: Miracle Palakia
Odimodi, Delta State – The Iyalahga and Diepregha families, Odimodi, Aghoro, and the entire Iduwini Kingdom in Delta and Bayelsa States, breaks silence on the painful loss of their son, Prince Presley Isele Gere Iyalahga, Billionaire businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Preslyn Group of Companies, who passed away on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at the age of 48.
Prince Presley was an illustrious son of two distinguished families: His Royal Majesty Gere J. Iyalagha, (Igbedikuru-II), the late Ibenanawei of Iduwini Kingdom, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, and the late Regent of Iduwini Kingdom (Delta & Bayelsa States), High Chief Diepregha Akpotelemor of Gberigberi-Idumu Quarters, Aghoro-I Community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The former President of the Iduwini National Youth Council for Peace and Development was a respected businessman and community leader, who’s untimely demise has thrown his family, friends, associates, community, and Kingdom into deep shock and sorrow. He’s survived by his beloved wife, Princess Preye Presley Iyalagha, and six children.
The families made known the development to newsmen on Saturday, August 16th, in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Oroupade Oweibe and George Diepregha for the families and his son, Prince Peremobowei Presley Iyalagha, for the children.
According to the statement, funeral rites will take place on Friday, August 29th, 2025. At 10 a.m., the body will depart Warri via Millar Jetty to his compound in Odimodi for a brief Funeral Service, lying in state, interment.
IduwiniVoice can report that Prince Presley Iyalagha’s passing marks not only the loss of a vibrant Royal entrepreneur but that of a leader in Iduwini Kingdom and Ijaw nation. His memory remains deeply cherished by the lives he touched and all who knew him.
By: Divine Perezide
Congratulatory messages continue to pour in as Warri-borne business tycoon, and Delta Ijaw APC leader, Madam Beauty Warezuwowei makes the list of members recently appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the reconstituted Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYREP). Reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to tackling environmental degradation in oil-producing regions, the newly appointed board members include representatives from the Niger Delta, Ogoni Communities, NGOs, and oil-producing states, with the Minister of Environment serving as Chairman of the council.
Read the statement announcing the appointment below:
“STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
“PRESIDENT TINUBU ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR HYREP
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYREP), with the Minister of Environment serving as Chairman of the Council.
“The other members are Loanyie Barituka Victor, who represents the Non-governmental Organisations focused on the environment, Bright Onyebuchi Jacob, and Henry Obiabure, who represent the Niger Delta communities.
“Professor Barinedum Michael Nwibere and Barrister Baride Abdul Gwezia are the representatives of the Ogoni Community on the new Council.
“The nine oil-producing states have two representatives on the Council: Gideon Onyebuwa Melfor and Dr Ibikunle Omotehinse.
“There are four alternative members of the Council, representing Ogoniland and the Niger Delta: Rev. Canon Dr Abraham Olungwe, who was reappointed and Engr. Maeba Power Ekpobari are the alternate members of the Council representing Ogoniland. Joseph Akedesuo and Beauty Warejuowei represent the Niger Delta.
“President Tinubu also reconstituted the HYREP Board of Trustees, with Emmanuel Nwiika Deeyah reappointed chairman.
“Fred Mbombo Igwe and Dr. Fred Barivule Kpakol will represent Ogoni communities and stakeholders on the board. Mrs Dorcas Amos represents the other Niger Delta communities, while Chief Jide Damazio, who was reappointed, represents the NGOs dealing with environmental issues.
“Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
“August 11, 2025”
The appointment of Warejuwowei into the board of the HYREP, an office marking the renewed poise at restoring the badly polluted environments in the Niger Delta and advancin Ogoniland’s remediation efforts, has been applauded by people from across the region, adding that she will surely deliver meaningful contributions towards the successes of the agency and the federal government.
By: Favour Bibaikefie
Commendations pour in from across Africa as renowned Delta State-born peace and development advocate, Comrade (Chief) Mulade Sheriff, has succefully defended his researh for Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in International Relations at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.
A United Nations Peace Ambassador, environmentalist, human rights activist, sports enthusiast, entrepreneur, educational promoter, and social leader, Dr. Mulade is the National Coordinator of the foremost civil rights organisation, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), also known as the Africa 4 Peace Centre.
This remarkable academic feat once again demonstrates his unwavering zeal for intellectual excellence, further cementing his reputation as a visionary leader committed to peace, justice, and development, through the instrumentality of the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge.
As he takes this leap from local, state, and national engagements to a more pronounced presence on the international stage, Nigerians can look forward to the far-reaching impact of his knowledge, which promises to translate into global opportunities for the nation and beyond.