37 Professors and Researchers Join Oil Giant in Bold Knowledge-Exchange Drive
Segun Atanda/
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has launched a transformative sabbatical and internship programme, bringing on board 14 university professors and 23 research students from across Nigeria in a strategic effort to bridge the gap between academia and the energy industry.
At an induction ceremony held at the company’s Port Harcourt headquarters on Monday, the initiative was hailed as a powerful catalyst for national development. “Providing practical industry experience for lecturers and researchers is a sure way to strengthen teaching and research capability,” said Igo Weli, Renaissance’s General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, who was represented by Emmanuel Anyim, Manager, Social Investment and Social Performance.
The programme is designed to immerse academic minds in the real-world operations of Renaissance’s exploration and production business. Areas of focus include biodiversity, petroleum engineering, social investment, community health, and environmental impact assessment.
Describing the initiative as mutually enriching, Weli emphasized that while academia benefits from industry exposure, Renaissance gains access to cutting-edge research and specialized expertise.
“It’s an investment in the next generation of innovators,” he said, affirming the company’s long-term commitment to Nigerian Content Development.
The company’s partnership with the academic community also extends to establishing professorial chairs and centers of excellence, particularly in the Niger Delta, where Renaissance maintains core operations. These efforts are bolstered by long-running educational interventions such as scholarships and community empowerment schemes.
Dr. Akinwunmi Fajola, Renaissance’s Country Health Manager, lauded the programme as a model for industry leadership in capacity building.
“This initiative reaffirms Renaissance’s position as a beacon for positive learning environments and national talent development,” he said, encouraging participants to embrace the company’s ethos of impactful community engagement.
Renaissance’s forward-thinking initiative comes on the heels of its landmark acquisition in March 2025, where it assumed full operational control of the SPDC Joint Venture—now comprising the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Renaissance, TotalEnergies Limited, and Agip Energy and Natural Resources Limited.
0
