The Petroleum Technology Development Journal (PTDJ) was published as Petroleum Training Journal (PTJ) between 2001 and 2009. The idea of a first class petroleum journal that will meet both academic and professional needs was mooted at a meeting of the Forum of the Management of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, (PTI) and the Training Managers in the Petroleum Sector (the Forum) in Nigeria in February 1996. There was a unanimous expression of the genuinely felt need for a technical and authoritative journal that will add value to learning and development in the industry; and provide a high profile avenue for the publication of research works and case studies.
The issue of the journal remained on subsequent agendas of meetings of the Forum every February and September for two years, but not much was achieved since no corporate organisation was willing to fund the project or play host to the journal secretariat. However in September 1998 Dr. Momodu Kassim-Momodu hosted the meeting of the Forum in Lagos as the manager charged with responsibility for training and human resource planning for Chevron Corporation’s Nigeria and Mid-Africa Strategic Business. He promised at that meeting to assist in realising the petroleum journal dream and thereafter made several trips to Effurun, Delta State, from his Lagos base to meet with Dr. Samuel Ebika Ovuru, who was then the Principal of PTI, Sir Richard Edebiri, who was at that time PTI Director of Research and Consultancy and Dr. Mohammed Abass, the Registrar of PTI, to intensify efforts to establish the Editorial Board and set up a small administrative structure to work on the first issue of the journal.
A draft Constitution that Dr. Kassim-Momodu wrote was adopted and the Forum chose Petroleum Training Journal as the name of the journal. The Editorial Board was thereafter established to pursue and actualize the dream under the auspices of the Forum. The first Editorial Board was made up of Dr. Momodu Kassim-Momodu as Editor, and Dr. Kevin Ikponmwosa Idehen of PTI as the Deputy Editor. Other pioneer members of the Editorial Board are Mr. Edoreh Agbah of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Pastor S. O. J. Akpowowo of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Chris Osarumwense of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Miss. J. I. Philips of NAPIMS, NNPC, Mr. C. Y. Kachikwu of PTI, Dr. Samuel C. Onwudiwe of Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Mrs. E. T. Udisi of PTI and Mr. Zachariya A, Gundu. Mrs. Lucy Ayoola of Chevron Nigeria Limited was the pioneer Administrative Secretary.
Other members who later joined the Editorial Board are Mr. Andrew Omobude of PTDF; Mr. Musa Rabiu of Shell EP Africa, EPG; Dr. Edith Azinge of Chevron Nigeria Limited; Mrs. Habiba. A. Wakil, mni, of PTDF; Dr. I. A. Mohammed of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Mr. S. A. Dare of Pipeline Products Marketing Company Limited, Abuja; Dr. Asirra Eguma of the Centre for Petroleum Studies, Kaduna; Professor A. J. Kehinde of the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos; Professor C. S. Nwajide of Geoscan Technical Services Limited, Awka; Professor J. A. Ajienka of the University of Port-Harcourt and Professor Dulu Appah of Petroleum Technology Development Fund. Mr. Mashu Baker served as the Administrative Secretary of the Journal from 1 February 2004 to December 2010 when the administrative management of the journal was fully transferred to PTDF
An Editorial Advisory Board was also established in 1999 with Sir Richard Edebiri, Director of Research and Consultancy, PTI as Chairman. Other pioneer members of the Editorial Advisory Board were Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Professor C. Ikoku, Mr. S. O. Akporido, Mrs. E. O. Gomes, Mr. Lapai A. Isah, Mr. R. C. Nwagbara, Mr. T. I. Omoruyi, and Mr. Ndu Ughamadu
The Editorial Board embarked on the search for writers of publishable materials and a fundraising drive, to raise funds for the first issue of the journal. The journey of the journal in the beginning was quite rough and rocky as a result of paucity of publishable articles and challenges of funds for printing of the maiden issue. Eventually, funds trickled in from the direct financial assistance of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and Pipeline and Product Marketing Company Limited. Other sources of initial funds were the paid advertisement placements in the journal by Texaco Overseas Petroleum Company (Nigeria) Unlimited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Multinational Expertise Limited and Ages Nigeria Limited. The moral support from Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, who was then the Nigerian Presidential Adviser on Petroleum & Energy and Former Secretary General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Miss Ama Pepple, who was then the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and other petroleum industry leaders was overwhelming. Chevron Nigeria Limited agreed to provide office accommodation for the journal and take full responsibility for the salaries and perquisites of the full time staff of the journal. The company also agreed to meet all administrative requirements of the journal including office equipment and stationery supplies, email, full internet facilities and DHL courier services for both local and overseas correspondence.
The Editorial Board received encouragement, support and professional advise from Chief Aret Adams of Multinational Expertise Limited, who was the first Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Egbert Imomoh, Deputy Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, Mr. George Osahon, the Group General Manager of NAPIMS, and Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, who became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
The first issue of the journal was eventually published in 2001 but was formally presented to the public at a ceremony in Abuja on September 26, 2002 by Miss Ama Pepple, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Petroleum Resources, on behalf of Dr. Rilwanu Luqman, who was away in Vienna attending a meeting of the OPEC. Indeed she flew in that morning from OPEC Headquarters, Vienna, Austria where she was also attending the meeting of OPEC.
At the public presentation, concerns were expressed about the continuity, stability and future of the journal in view of the generally high mortality rate of journals in Africa. In his words of encouragement, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman advised that all hands in the petroleum industry and universities should be on deck so that the journal can be sustained. Since then, the bi-annual publication has come a long way as the premier learning and development journal, with focus on the petroleum sector.
The second Volume of the first issue was delayed till March 2004 due to lack of funds and very poor subscription and sales. The Editorial Board therefore approached the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for assistance and participation in the Editorial Board. Mr. Andrew Omobude, was nominated by PTDF as a member of the Editorial Board and PTDF subsequently intervened and took over responsibility for funding the printing of the journal. With this intervention, the journal progressed on a steady course with the production of two issues annually. There was also a concert of motley stakeholders from the academic community and the industry who were actively supporting the vision of the journal through technical assistance by way of contributing articles and research materials for publication in the journal and assessment of materials submitted for publication. A total of six volumes and twelve issues of the Petroleum Training Journal were published before the name of the journal was changed to Petroleum Technology Development Journal in 2011. These are (2001) Vol. 1 No. 1 PTJ, (2004) Vol. 1 No. 2 PTJ, (2005) Vol. 2 No. 1 PTJ, (2005) Vol. 2 No. 2 PTJ, (2006) Vol. 3 No. 1 PTJ, (2006) Vol. 3 No. 2 PTJ, (2007) Vol. 4 No. 1 PTJ, (2007) Vol. 4 No. 2 PTJ, (2008) Vol. 5 No. 1 PTJ, (2008) Vol. 5 No. 2 PTJ, (2009) Vol. 6 No. 1 PTJ, and (2009) Vol. 6 No. 2 PTJ
Significantly, the journal was accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as one of the foremost technical journals in the Nigerian intellectual and professional orbit. PTJ was ranked ‘First’ in the Technology and Engineering Category by the NUC in 2005. This accreditation confirmed the status of PTJ as a top quality reference petroleum technology journal. The Editorial Board has not relented in its efforts to continuously improve on that enviable achievement.
PTJ made efforts to developed working cooperation with some overseas organizations for the purpose of international networking and circulation. Among such outfits are International Human Resources Development Corporation (IHRDC) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Crown Agents in UK; African Books and Collectives Ltd, Oxford, UK. The PTJ also attempted hatching a symbiotic relationship with Getenergy (UK) Limited (Global Education and Training in Energy Consultants). The PTJ participated at the Getenergy Annual Event for Global Education and Training in Energy which held Dubai in March 2006. PTJ Editor made a presentation on Learning and Development in the Petroleum Industry and also facilitated one Circle of Exchange. PTJ and Getenergy jointly hosted the Getenergy African Regional Forum and PTJ Summit of Stakeholders in September 2006 in order to harness the benefits of synergy.
The PTJ held a Summit of Stakeholders on September 18, 2006. The primary motivation for the Summit was to appraise the progress of the PTJ, and also, to chart and agree on a clear mandate for action needed for moving the journal forward in order to consolidate on the initial successes, and register a much stronger impact, both locally in Nigeria and internationally. This was also an effort to get all stakeholders to take full ownership and increased responsibility for the Journal. The PTJ Summit was sponsored by the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), NNPC through the instrumentality of Mr. George Osahon, who was then the Group General Manager. The Chairman of The Summit was Mr. Adamu Maina Waziri, the Executive Secretary, of PTDF as he then was.
The PTJ Summit of Stakeholders which had as its theme “Spearheading a Breakthrough in Petroleum Sector Learning and Development” was held in collaboration with Getenergy UK Limited – an independent facilitator between education, training and learning and the energy industry. PTJ also collaborated with Getenergy in hosting Getenergy’s 1st Africa Regional Exchange on September 19, 2006, a day after the PTJ Summit. The theme for the Regional Exchange was “Cracking Local Content: Sharing Solutions for Sustainable Workforce Development.” This event formed a central part of Getenergy’s global education and training initiative. It brought together providers of education and training with upstream oil and gas operators, government representatives and the international companies to advance the development of human capability for the African Energy Industry. This foresight of collaboration in co-hosting the two events accounted to a very large extent for the quality of facilitation, participation and the significant success recorded at the Summit.
The PTJ Summit attracted the cream of human capital technocrats from a cross–section of the petroleum sector, the universities, professional bodies, petroleum management, and human resources consultants. The Summit featured five sub themes which were effectively facilitated by Dr. Ken Graham, an expert in Leadership Coaching and Development, Naperville, Illinois, USA who was the overall facilitator and Professor A. J. Kehinde, Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria, Engr. Joseph Akande, Group General Manager, Nigerian Content Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Phil Andrews, MD/CEO, Getenergy UK Ltd.
Alhaji Ahmed Acidah, Manager, Group Learning & Development, NNPC, and Mallam Musa Rabiu, Regional Learning and Leadership Development Adviser, Shell Exploration and Production, Africa (EPG).
There were 91 participants with professional expertise ranging from Management, Petroleum Engineering, Law, Finance, Marketing to Journalism at the Summit. Organizations and companies represented included NNPC, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Center for Petroleum Studies (CPS), Kaduna, Getenergy UK Ltd, London, Slonergy Oil and Gas, Lagos, PTDF, Abuja, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Integrated Data Sciences Limited (IDSL), Benin City, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and other companies from a cross section of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. etc.
The level of stakeholders’ participation and copious ideas generated in this one day summit confirmed to a large extent the general acceptability of the PTJ concept and willingness of stakeholders to contribute to its sustainability as an authoritative international journal on human capital development in the petroleum and allied sector. Collaboration with Getenergy Ltd UK was seen as a veritable gateway to a mutually beneficial international partnership and needs to be pursued with commitment.
A major area of concern for the stakeholders was the sustainability of the PTJ. This was fueled by the fear that the journal may not survive for long unless it is taken over and properly funded by a corporate body that will guarantee the funding of Editorial Board activities and take responsibility for ensuring uninterrupted publishing of the journal. The consensus was that the PTDF by its mandate was better placed to take full responsibility for the journal – especially as it was already responsible for printing the journal. Chevron Nigeria Limited was commended for hosting and funding the secretariat of the journal while appeal was also made to all stakeholders to show greater interest in the journal and encourage experts to contribute articles to the journal.
The Editorial Board consequently appealed to the PTDF to consider taking over the journal. The initial reaction was not encouraging. However the Board kept pressure on each Executive Secretary of the PTDF since 2006. Serious discussions on the transfer of the journal to PTDF started on 12 February, 2009 when the Editorial Board met with the management of PTDF to justify the request for PTDF to take-over the journal. The Executive Secretary of PTDF Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma took special interest in the proposal and the idea of PTDF taking over the journal to not only ensuring that its publication is sustained, but to guarantee continuous improvement in the quality of the journal. The discussions and negotiation continued till October 2010, and on the 12th day of October 2010 a Memorandum of Understanding between PTJ and PTDF for the transfer of the journal to PTDF was signed at the PTDF headquarters in Abuja.
After the transfer of the journal, the management of PTDF and the Editorial Board of the journal agreed there was a need to effect a name change to properly reflect the focus of the journal and the mandate of PTDF, the new publisher. The name Petroleum Technology Development Journal was therefore adopted. The Vision of the new journal remains the same – that is “To be a global, authoritative journal on human capital development in the petroleum sector”. The Mission also remains the same – that is “To advance the understanding of learning and development, disseminate information to enhance knowledge and to propel the quest for excellence in the petroleum sector.”The Mission fits perfectly into the mandate of the new publisher.
The Editorial Board reassures readers and article contributors that this premier petroleum sector learning and development journal will continue striving to synthesize principles and theory with practice. The journal will remain a bi-annual knowledge bank, a not-for-profit educational and research project, functioning as the fertilizer for stimulating the growth and development of the petroleum sector of our economy. It will maintain its position as a major player in petroleum technology development education world-wide.
