The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO) have donated 20 computer sets to the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to enhance academic excellence and innovation.
The donation, made on Thursday, was officially handed over to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, on behalf of the university management.
Presenting the computers, Catherine Madukwe, Manager of Business Development and Projects at NNPC/Shell, emphasized that the initiative aims to support students’ academic growth and secure their future. She noted that ESUT was among several institutions selected for the donation and assured that NNPC, Shell, and their partners are committed to further support, provided the donated equipment is well maintained.
“We received your request for support, and in response, NNPC, Shell, and our partners have decided to donate 20 computer sets. We are pleased to extend this assistance, and I am confident that more support will come in the future. However, we also emphasize the importance of maintenance. When we return in five years, we want to see these computers still in use. Proper upkeep will encourage further donations,” Madukwe stated.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the university, Vice-Chancellor Professor Okolie acknowledged the longstanding relationship between ESUT, NNPC, Shell, and other donors. He highlighted that this collaboration led to the conferment of an honorary doctorate on former NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Osagie Okunbor, during ESUT’s 19th convocation ceremony in 2023.
“Thank you for this generous donation. We deeply appreciate our partnership with NNPC, Shell, and other donors. It was in recognition of the positive impact made by your former MD that our university honored him with a doctorate in 2023. We are grateful that you continue to remember us,” he said.
Professor Okolie further explained that ESUT is expanding its ICT infrastructure, with a new building—originally donated by NNPC over a decade ago—being upgraded to accommodate a 500-computer capacity center. The university is also developing software for computer-based testing (CBT) and aims to deploy the technology once the infrastructure is fully equipped.
“The newly constructed ICT building has space for 500 computers on both the ground and first floors. We recently conducted site inspections and made recommendations to enhance the facility. With this donation, our target of 500 computers has been reduced to 480. We remain committed to improving our ICT capabilities, and maintaining existing infrastructure is key to achieving our goals,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
