Bayero University Kano (BUK) has hosted African students affiliated with the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) for the 2025 Africa Annual Congress, an event which avails five African universities to compete in the global petrol quiz in the United States.
The three-day programme with the theme, “Building the Energy Workforce of Tomorrow, Insight on Innovation, Technology and Talent Development,” highlights the importance of exploring innovation and technology in reshaping the energy landscape across Africa, utilising new skills and knowledge.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the event at the BUK Dangote Business School, regional director of SPE Africa, Riverson Opong, said SPE is an international organisation active in 156 countries globally, including about 18 Africa countries with Nigeria being the largest and the first to host SPE events on the continent.
He added that Nigeria has a strong presence with over 20 student chapters.
According to him, SPE focuses on offering students and young professionals a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing and understanding developments in the oil and gas sector, developing both their technical and non-technical skills.
Opong explained that the regional congress is a major event where students from various African countries participate in competitions called Petro Ball (petrol quiz) where winning universities represent Africa in the US.
He however noted that, after the congress, the top five students from the various contests will represent Africa at the global level, noting that Nigerian university students had achieved third place against institutions like the French University of Petroleum and Texas A&M in the Petro Ball in a past competition.
In his remarks, BUK vice chancellor, Prof Sagir Adamu, reiterated the commitment of the institution in promoting academic excellence.
Represented by the deputy vice chancellor, Academics, Haruna Musa, the VC said the university would partner SPE in addressing the problem of energy production and utilisation bedeviling Nigeria and Africa which is part of the university’s mission and vision.
He also expressed satisfaction over the choice of BUK to host the event, noting that it is an honour for both the students and staff of the university.
