From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, to increase and implement the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects of the company in tertiary institutions across the country.
NANS noted that although the NNPCL has carried out some intervention projects in the form of CSR in government and public institutions, implementing more projects in tertiary institutions would ensure a conducive environment for learning for the students.
The student body added that the NNPCL would equally complement the efforts of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) in the provision of various educational facilities, if the company focuses more of its CSR projects in the tertiary institutions in the country.
Ojulari at the weekend officially took over the reins of the NNPCL from his predecessor, Mr. Mele Kyari.
NANS, however, in a statement yesterday signed by its National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse, Sileola Felicia congratulated Ojulari on his new appointment and tasked him to solve the knotty issues militating against the petroleum sector in the country.
According to Akinbodunse, the instability in the pump price of premium motor spirit had taken its toll more on the Nigerian students, urging the new GCEO of the NNPCL to reverse the ugly trend.
She added that although the Federal Government had finalised plans to establish CNG-conversion centers and refuelling stations in 20 tertiary institutions across the country, it was imperative for the NNPCL to bring succour to Nigerian students through infrastructural intervention and scholarship programmes for indigent but intelligent students.
NANS further charged Ojulari on the need to ensure that the Warri and Port-Harcourt refineries swung into full operations in order to make fuel available to Nigerians at an affordable price.