The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has hosted a delegation of top-performing students from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in a move aimed at exposing future engineers and innovators to world-class industrial operations and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.
The visit, which took place at the refinery complex in Lagos, fulfilled a commitment made by the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, during FUTO’s 37th Public Lecture, where he pledged to provide outstanding students with firsthand experience of large-scale industrial facilities.
The delegation, led by the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti, comprised exceptional students drawn from engineering, technology and entrepreneurship programmes.
Addressing the students during an interactive session, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, David Bird, described the facility as a symbol of Africa’s growing industrial capability and technological advancement.
He said the refinery demonstrates how innovation, advanced engineering and private sector investment can drive economic transformation while creating opportunities for young Africans.
According to Bird, the refinery, regarded as the world’s largest single-train refinery, represents one of the most technologically advanced industrial projects on the continent.
He noted that exposing students to such facilities was essential in changing perceptions about industrial careers and showcasing the possibilities within Africa’s manufacturing and energy sectors.
Bird expressed admiration for the students’ enthusiasm and curiosity, noting that the visit offered them an opportunity to witness firsthand the application of modern technology in large-scale industrial operations.
He also disclosed plans by the company to strengthen partnerships with universities and research institutions, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable fuels and emerging technologies.
According to him, closer collaboration between industry and academia would help promote innovation and support the commercialisation of research findings.
Group photograph of Some of the Students From Federal University Technology Owerri (FUTO) Prof. Nnenna N. Oti; at the Dangote Refinery Central Laboratory, During the Selected Students From Federal University Technology Owerri (FUTO) Visit to Dangote Refinery Petroleum and Fertiliser Plant Lekki on Monday 16, June 2026.
Speaking on behalf of the university, Vice Chancellor Professor Nnenna Oti described the tour as a transformational experience that would leave a lasting impact on the students.
She recalled that the invitation was extended by Aliko Dangote after his engagement with the university community earlier in the year, adding that the visit reflected his commitment to inspiring future generations of professionals.
Oti said the initiative provided a practical platform for students to connect theoretical knowledge acquired in classrooms with real-life industrial applications.
She described the programme as an excellent example of industry-academia collaboration and stressed the importance of such partnerships in preparing students for the demands of the modern workplace.
The Vice Chancellor added that exposure to a facility of the refinery’s scale and complexity would help broaden the students’ perspectives and encourage them to pursue ambitious career goals.
For many of the students, the experience offered a rare opportunity to observe equipment, systems and processes they had previously encountered only in textbooks and lecture halls.
A final-year Mechanical Engineering student, Amadi Ijeoma Winfrey, said the visit deepened her understanding of industrial operations and demonstrated the practical relevance of concepts studied in class.
Similarly, a final-year Chemical Engineering student, Israel Ifanyichukwu, described the experience as eye-opening, noting that it provided valuable insight into how engineering principles are applied on a large industrial scale.
Other members of the university delegation, including the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Professor Abraham Ngwuta, and the Dean of Students Affairs, Professor Chikwendu Emenike Orji, commended Dangote for creating opportunities that expose students to practical entrepreneurship and industrial development.
They described Aliko Dangote as a leading example of African entrepreneurship whose investments across key sectors continue to demonstrate the role of private enterprise in national development and job creation.
The visit forms part of Dangote Industries’ broader efforts to support education, innovation and skills development while contributing to the emergence of a new generation of professionals capable of driving Africa’s industrialisation agenda.