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The University of Ibadan has produced its first doctor of philosophy (PhD) graduate in Energy and Environment Studies.
He is Yinus Akintunde, a former commissioner for Works and Transport in Oyo State and a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 election.
He successfully defended his Ph.D thesis on Wednesday at the institute’s Centre for Petroleum, Energy, Economics and Law (CPEEL).
The Director of the centre, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, said Akintunde was the first to specialize in Energy and Environment at the doctoral level.
His words: “We train students in masters and PhD. In the last few years, we have had privilege of producing eight PhDs but this is the first time we will have somebody who specializes in energy and environment. We are good, we are achieving the desired results. It is good to know that the new doctor did his master’s degree here and he has also acquired professional experience in the field of energy. So, it’s a real progress that is made.”
He added that one remarkable thing about the CPEEL is that it is a multi-disciplinary centre.
“We bring together engineers, scientists and social scientists. So , whatever that comes from this department has multi-disciplinary perspectives which, in our view, will enable our graduates make impacts in fresh and broader perspectives, looking at energy issues and solving energy problems in the country.” Adenikinju said.
As a governorship aspirant, a prominent part of Akintunde’s campaign point is to reduce epileptic power supply by half in his first year in office.
His words: “ If I become governor of Oyo State, I promise to solve 50 per cent of epileptic power supply within one year. Governance is just about knowledge to do things aright, not by empty promises. The problem of electricity is not about distribution which makes legislators distribute transformers; it is more about power generation. If some towns, locations or organizations in Oyo State such as the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, University of Ibadan, Government Secretariat, the Polytechnic etc can generate power, then others can as well enjoy power supply from the national grid which is the main source. This is a matter of idea and concepts. Thankfully, this is my strength as a doctoral scholar in Energy and Environment.”