The Managing Director of Tullow Oil (Ghana), Mr. Dai Jones, has paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. W.O.Ellis to discuss areas where Tullow Oil Ghana could collaborate with the University to expand the development arenas for both institutions.

The Vice-Chancellor considered the visit of Mr. Dai Jones prudent and proposed the construction of extra laboratories for chemical and biological research work in the University as avenues Tullow Ghana could assist KNUST in its development. He further stated the laboratories could be equipped with enough resources to facilitate research work.

Mr. Dai Jones, who is a  Petroleum Geologist and a Ghanaian by birth (he was born in South Suntreso, Kumasi), said Tullow has been perceived as slow on the uptake (in terms of development assistance) but he said that was deliberate because Tullow believed in sustainable, long term development initiatives that would impact permanently on the community.

He therefore shared the V.C's vision of constructing extra laboratories to assist with teaching and research in the areas of biological and chemical engineering. Mr. Dai Jones said Tullow would be interested in partnering the University in the building of the labs and helping to provide the required equipment.

Both men agreed that the country required technicians to man the oil and gas sector; therefore the existence of the proposed labs could be used to train the technicians and create a synergy between both institutions. Mr. Dai Jones disclosed Tullow Oil Ghana looked forward to having a long term partnership with KNUST.