Temitayo: Nigerian Petroleum Engineering Student Thriving at Louisiana State University

Temitayo is a Petroleum Engineering Student at Louisiana State University in the United States of America.

Louisiana State University is a public research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1853 and has been supporting land, sea, and space-grant research.

In this interview with Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme, he shared his action plans to bring new innovations that will help maximize Africa’s potential in the oil and gas industry.

OGR: Please tell us about yourself?

Temitayo: Ok, first of all, thank you for taking the time to chat with me. I am familiar with your publication and your efforts to publicize the oil and gas sector in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

My name is Temitayo, I am currently a Petroleum Engineering student at Louisiana State University in the United States. I majored in Petroleum Engineering to help maximize Africa’s potential in the Hydrocarbon industry. Although I am in Louisiana, my heart is in Nigeria, specifically my ancestral home in Ondo State.

OGR: Great. You mentioned Ondo State, what influence has your home state had on you?

Temitayo: I have a passion for all of Nigeria, to be honest. All 36 states bring something to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I see the potential of the Ilaje area despite the lack of development and occasional social unrest and I respect the hard work of Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan and Obat Oil. The efforts of Kassim Adeleke’s, the CEO of Crown Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd, refinery project in Ilaje is motivating me to continue on my path to impact Ondo and the country. Mr. Adeleke’s work will bring a lot of jobs to Ondo.

OGR: What inspired you to study petroleum engineering at Louisiana State University?

Temitayo: I see great potential in improving how the petroleum industry manages the exploration, refinery, and management of oil. When approached the right way, Nigeria and Africa at large still have a lot to gain from the petroleum industry and I want to bring my technical expertise to assist in the process.

OGR: How would you evaluate the opportunities in America’s oil and gas industry?

Temitayo: I have met with a lot of like-minded students and professionals in the industry who are interested in doing business in Africa. I plan to use my technical knowledge, expertise, and contacts gained at LSU to improve the oil and gas sector in Africa.

OGR: When you’re not studying, how do you spend your free time in Louisiana?

Temitayo: I enjoy reading, spending time with friends, and staying up to date on recent developments in the oil and gas field. I like to know the latest developments in Africa’s oil and gas industry because it gives me an understanding of why I am at LSU.

I feel like the more I know about the hydrocarbon industry in Africa the easier it makes it for me to inform oil and gas professionals in the U.S. about opportunities on the Continent.

So far, I have made relevant conversations with some industry players in the industry interested in exploration and service-based work in Africa.

Somedays, I feel like an ambassador for opportunities on the African Continent for Americans or how the American oil and gas system work for Africans.

For example, Nestoil’s recent rebranding in late 2019. I enjoyed telling my colleagues about what the change in an image meant from a branding perspective and how young people like myself can utilize the skills acquired at LSU for innovation in the oil and gas industry.

OGR: Who are your role models in the oil and gas industry?

Temitayo: Well, I have several. I spend a lot of time researching fellow LSU Tiger Alums like James C. Flores and Lawerence Trey Boucvalt lll whose organization performs Environmental Emergency Services including oil spill response & cleanup, something my mentor at Progressive Global Growth, the program that is encouraging my plans, suggests I get familiar with.

Other role models and people I follow are Ohio-based Steve Hightower, Prince Arthur Eze the owner of Oranto, Folorunso Alakija, Dr. ABC Orjiako and Mr Avuru of Seplat, and Segun Adebutu of Petrolex.

OGR: We have done some interviews with PGG Founder Mr. Chris. Can you speak on how Progressive Global Growth has positively impacted you?

Temitayo: Yes, absolutely! Mr. Chris encourages me to utilize my education and future professional pursuits to strengthen ties between the U.S. and West African industry, specifically the Nigerian Oil and Gas sectors. Mr Chris is a proud American but he loves African culture and food. Any American that enjoys Egusi and Efo Riro is ok with me. He knows I can be very useful for independent indigenous West African companies seeking to strengthen their ties in the U.S.

OGR: What are your future plans, what’s next for you Temitayo?

Temitayo: I am seeking an internship this summer with a company in the U.S. or Nigeria. I plan to reach out to the Independent Petroleum Association of America, American Petroleum Institute, Society of Petroleum Engineers, and the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

PGG has positive communication with the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the American Association of Blacks in Energy, so, I plan to see how I can do an internship with an oil and gas firm within these two great organizations.

OGR: How can an organization or interested individual contact you or PGG?

Temitayo: Please visit www.Pggfoundation.org and click the contact section. It’s best to send an email.