When Gown Meets Industry: Lessons from RSU Students’ Visit to Oando Plc

Postgraduate students learn practical fire safety, risk management, and emergency response systems during industrial tours.

Postgraduate students of the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, have gained firsthand exposure to industrial fire safety and emergency management practices during an educational visit to Oando Plc’s Port Harcourt facility.

The visit, which brought together Post Graduate Degree (PGD), Master’s in Science (MSc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students, was part of the university’s effort to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application.

The interactive session, held at Oando’s conference hall, was facilitated by the company’s Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Department.

Team Lead for Fire and Emergency, Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Ltd., Uzor Ifeanyi led the session, focusing on fire causes, prevention, and control measures. He reminded participants that safety regulations are often born from past tragedies.

“Most safety rules are written in blood,” he said. “Do not make yourself the reason for a new safety rule. No amount of crude oil is as important as a drop of blood of our workers.”

He introduced the PEAR model—People, Environment, Assets, and Reputation—as a framework for prioritizing actions during emergencies, stressing the importance of hazard identification, mitigation, and timely reporting.

“An emergency, if not acted upon quickly, may escalate and cause damage to people, the environment, assets, and reputation,” he explained.

Students also received practical training in the use of fire extinguishers through the internationally recognized PASS technique—Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep—led by Oando’s Chief Fire Officer, David Mirrilla.

Oando Plc’s Manager of Social Projects, Ine Tamuno encouraged participants to apply safety principles beyond the workplace.

“Having safety knowledge without passing it down to others at home is zero,” she said. “Safety drills should be part of our daily lives.”

She added that while panic is natural during emergencies, preparedness determines effective response.

For Dr. Kingsley Okpara, Associate Professor and lecturer at RSU’s Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, the event was “enriching” and a demonstration of how collaboration between academia and industry can enhance research, capacity building, and curriculum development in disaster management and safety studies.

Responding, Mr. Ifeanyi supported the call for sustained collaboration, revealing that the oil and gas industry was considering establishing a university to institutionalize knowledge transfer between generations.

“The industry is planning to build a university because many experienced professionals are leaving without passing on their expertise,” he said. “Why not own the oil industry and become people of value? We are characterized by smartness.”

He added that such partnerships could help develop structured frameworks linking theory with practice.

“Having a curriculum co-created by universities, academics, and practitioners will strengthen knowledge transfer,” he said.

Oando Plc’s Port Harcourt General Manager, Solomon Agba, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to education.

“This is Rivers State University; they are our neighbours, and anything that has to do with education, we should be there,” he said.

On his part, Deputy Division Manager, Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), Oando Energy Resources Inc (OER), Dr. Raphael Onoshakpor urged students to remain committed to their studies.

“We are in the industry, and we are waiting for some of you to come and join us. Support your lecturers—it’s also difficult for them,” he advised.

A research fellow and lecturer at the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management, RSU, Dr. Ibinabo Ogolo thanked Oando for hosting the students, noting that the visit offered invaluable exposure to industrial realities.

“Today’s visit enhanced our understanding of theoretical concepts and exposed us to real-world challenges and opportunities,” she said.

Students expressed excitement about the experience.

“It was very engaging and educating,” said Sampson Eni, a PhD student.”

“It shows that what we are taught in class applies in the field,” added Ikenna Chukwuchindo, an MSc student.

“The experience was worth it and an added knowledge to the previous ones we’ve been taught,” said Joyce Momoh, another MSc. student.

The session ended with renewed optimism for greater collaboration between academia and industry, as Oando reaffirmed its commitment to safety, education, and innovation in building Nigeria’s next generation of professionals.