Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board was on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State inducted as a fellow of the Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS), University of Port Harcourt for his exceptional accomplishments in engineering, strategic management and local content leadership in the Oil and Gas Industry. The prestigious award was part of the flagship program of the Institute’s 15t Induction Ceremony/Exhibition which took place at Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, University of Port Harcourt. Wabote is one of the two persons admitted to fellowship of the Institute this year. The second person is Hervochon Joel, a French national and Executive Director, Deep Water District, TUPNI, Lagos. Both professionals were inducted for their distinguished career in the oil and gas sector, spanning nearly thirty years.
IPS was established fifteen years ago in collaboration with Institut Francais du Petrole et Energies Nouvelle (IFP/New Energy), the Ecole du Petrole et des Monteurs (IFP School), Paris, France. It was established primarily as a Centre of Excellence in Geosciences, Drilling and Production technology, petroleum economics, policy and strategic studies. The goal of the Institute is to provide topnotch academic and hands-on education for young professionals to meet the needs of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry through a commitment to excellence in training, applied research, continuing education and capacity building. The main sponsor of the Institute is the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)/Total E & P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG) Joint Venture.
In the citation read by the Institute, Mr. Wabote was described as an “experienced and excellent professional … … who has recorded huge successes in the various assignments so far carried out, making him an effective and resourceful manager who is able to groom and manage divers and high performing teams”. According to the Institute, Wabote’s spectacular performance across a wide spectrum of functional responsibilities in the Oil and Gas Industry, traversing engineering, procurement, process improvement, compliance and corporate governance, business and operational efficiency, local supply chain development and global local content leadership have distinguished him as an engineer and manager par excellence.
In his presentation titled, ‘’ Sustaining Productivity in the Plateau Phase of Growth’’, Engr. Wabote who was also the 15th Induction Guest Lecturer commended the Institute and University of Port Harcourt for the honor. He postulated that it is imperative for the Institute and the industry as whole to pursue sustainable productivity in plateau phase of growth of oil and gas production and value addition in Nigerian and not give room to decline due to complacency.
He commended “Total/NNPC JV for its efforts, dedication, and continual support to developing human capacity by adopting the University of Port – Harcourt to domicile IPS and creating a conducive learning environment for Nigerians to attain and share knowledge”. He enjoined the sponsors of the Institute, “ensure you don’t get into the plateau of complacency as it can only result in decline”.
