Yemisi Izuora
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has said that Nigeria is fervently looking up to the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS) to assist in salvaging the country’s steel industry, noting that the sector was critical to the nation’s industrial revolution.
Dr. Baru who stated this while speaking at the 33rd Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS) shortly after he was conferred with the Society’s Fellowship in Warri, Delta State, said steel was a major component of the Oil and Gas industry, adding that the NMS must articulate pragmatic strategies and practical framework to restore growth and re-engineer a rebirth of the steel sector and production of other metals in the country.
The NNPC GMD lamented the state of some of the nation’s steel assets despite the huge investment made by the Federal Government in the sector many years ago.
“I would like to challenge this conference to deliberate and proffer ways of revitalizing this huge investment which will not only support the oil and gas industry through the provision of steel inputs for our fabrication needs, but will also make a huge impact on the nation’s quest towards industrialization,” Baru noted.
He expressed NNPC’s commitment to forge strong partnerships with professional bodies such as NMS to enable the Corporation deliver on its mandate of moving the nation’s economy forward.
He thanked the society for the fellowship conferred on him, stating that the award would spur him and his team to do more to touch the lives of Nigerians in many positive ways.
While conferring the fellowship on the GMD, the National President of NMS, Professor Benjamin Adewuyi, said Dr. Baru was eminently qualified for the fellowship because of his worthy contributions to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.
“I would like you to consider this award as an inspiration for better service delivery to your company, the industry and the nation at large,” Prof. Adewuyi stated.
Founded in 1978, the NMS seeks to promote the science, engineering and technology of ferrous and non-ferrous materials and also to facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge pertaining to the metallurgical profession.
The theme of the 33rd Conference/AGM was: “Metal Production: A Panacea for National Security and Economic Recovery.”