CHIKUN/KAJURU REP, HON. FIDELIX BAGUDU, ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE. (PHOTO).
The College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), is nearing completion and will soon be inaugurated, according to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo.
During a tour of the facility on Friday, the Minister announced that the college, a project of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), is now 90% complete.
Located along the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway near the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, the college had remained dormant for over 15 years before the current PTDF administration revitalized the project.
“I believe you saw this place at 60% progress, but it’s now at 90%, with the rest expected to be completed within days,” Ekpo stated.
He commended the PTDF Executive Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Galadima Aminu, for the significant progress made, noting the college’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a digital library and an international conference center capable of hosting global events.
“This is a world-class facility,” Ekpo said. “It gives me hope that Nigeria is on the right path.”
The Minister emphasized the college’s role in Nigeria’s energy transition and called for increased use of gas and solar power over diesel. He encouraged collaboration with agencies like the Energy Commission and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to enhance the campus’s sustainability.
Highlighting the importance of local capacity development, Ekpo praised the institution’s planned split-site PhD programs as a way to reduce capital flight while equipping Nigerians with vital technical skills.
“We must commission this place soon so that academic activities can commence in 2025,” he added.
In his remarks, PTDF’s Executive Secretary, Aminu, confirmed preparations to admit the first cohort of students, noting that 531 applications have already been received. The college, situated on 86 hectares, features facilities for research, academics, and residence, including dining services, a mosque and chapel, and sports amenities.
Aminu also revealed academic partnerships with UK institutions such as the University of Strathclyde, Robert Gordon University, and the University of Portsmouth, which will support its postgraduate split-site programs. Additionally, CPESK is collaborating with NNPC Limited via the NNPC Academy for professional training.
“We look forward to commissioning the college in the coming weeks,” Aminu concluded.
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