A partnership between the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture has delivered a $3m centre for the study, management and control of environmental issues at the Enugu Campus of the institution.

Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, represented by General Manager Sustainable Development & Community Relations, Mr. Nedo Osanyande, yesterday commissioned the complex whose construction commenced in 2010 with the donation of an initial $1m by SPDC.

The Centre for Environmental Management & Control houses furnished laboratories, classrooms, lecture theatres outfitted with multimedia facilities as well as staff offices.

Speaking at the commissioning, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, described the building as a clear example of Public Private Partnership (PPP), targeted at complementing the efforts of the Federal Government in developing infrastructure in tertiary institutions.

Prof. Okolo maintained that the facility would help improve the training of students in the field of environmental studies as well as serve as a capacity building centre for Shell and other exploratory companies in West Africa.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the centre of excellence would blend theoretical teaching with practical demonstration in the field of environmental management. According to him, “blending theory with practice is a major way of advancing excellence in education.”

Prof. Okolo thanked Shell for the donation, noting that the building is comprehensive in terms of the structure and functional furnishing.

News Express reports that CEMAC is one of over 400 projects embarked upon by the management of UNN over the last four year period 2010-2013 as the institution reported to the government’s primary funding mechanism, Tertiary Education Trustfund, at a stakeholders’ meeting for institutions in the South East zone held on March 11 also at the Enugu Campus.

Speaking at yesterday’s commissioning ceremony, Sunmonu said the donation was a demonstration of Shell’s interest in environmental matters, which informed its commitment to build the centre to assemble the best brains in the field of environmental studies.

The Shell Nigeria Chairman stated that the CEMAC building is designed to provide high calibre training in environmental studies by keeping lecturers and students abreast with innovations and advances in their field of study.

He explained that besides awarding scholarship to bright students, Shell had also endowed eight Professorial Chairs in Nigerian universities to conduct researches in “Shell’s Exploration and Production, challenges, support Shell’s knowledge enrichment initiatives and to assist to evolve symbiotic relationship between the academia and the Exploration and Production industry.”

On measures to ensure that the Centre lives up to its mandate, the Shell henchman said a governing board, whose members would be drawn from both the UNN and Shell, would be established to monitor its progress and ensure that the mandate of the Centre would not be compromised.

•Photo shows SPDC GM Sustainable Dev., Nedo Osayande, cutting the tape of CEMAC watched by UNN VC Bartho Okolo (R) and other officials.