Takoradi Technical University, TTU, has won the 2024 National Slumberger Petro Challenge competition, dubbed SLB PetroChallenge, held in Accra.

To be crowned winners, TTU had to beat nine other Ghanaian Universities including the University of Ghana, University of Mines and Technology, KNUST, and University of Cape Coast.

The PetroChallenge competition tested students’ ability to utilise OilSim, an online business simulation to develop students' understanding of the upstream oil and gas industry.

The TTU winning team from the Oil and Natural Gas Engineering Department was made up of Solomon Ayissah, David Nana Doffour Mensah, and Jacob Kwabena Amoeku who exhibited exceptional skills and knowledge in the subject.

For their winning prize, the team will have a 6 months Internship with Slumberger, a petroleum sector giant, received certificates of honour, a plaque and a Samsung Tablet for each of the contestants.

The Vice Chancellor of TTU, Rev. Prof. John Frank Eshun, speaking when the winning team led by their coaches and departmental heads presented their award to the management of the University, praised the team for the honour of the prestigious SLB PetroChallenge award.

Rev. Prof. Eshun added that the award reinforces TTU’s special place in the field of training for the petroleum sector.

“The best comes from the West, and you have done exactly that. I am truly proud of you. Continue to shine; the sky is your limit. Someone called me and said that now you are truly championing your mandate as an oil and gas technical university, which is why you are at the top. Once again, I thank you for this honour and I pray that you will continue to shine, as there are other competitions ahead. Always strive to be the best. You have made TTU, the Western Region, and Ghana proud“, he said.

Head of the Oil and Natural Gas Engineering Department of TTU, Ing. Dr. Joseph Sekyi-Ansah who together with Lord Kwame Segbeawu, a lecturer, coached the winning team, said the team’s success is attributable to TTU’s strategic investment in petroleum training as a niche area as well as its established strong industry relationships and teamwork.

While appreciating Slumberger for initiating the PetroChallenge as a good platform to nurture future petroleum industry technicians, Dr. Joseph Sekyi-Ansah further emphasized the importance of the award to the University’s vision.

“This victory depicts our department's dedication to producing industry-ready professionals, cementing our reputation as a premier Petroleum Education institution in Ghana and West Africa.“

TTU's Oil and Natural Gas Training is renowned for providing practical training through partnerships with oil companies. This victory solidifies TTU's reputation as a leading institution for oil and natural gas education.