Major transformation is coming for Guyana’s highest institution of learning as a multi-billion-dollar capacity building and development project initiated by ExxonMobil and Stabroek Block co-venturers, Hess and CNOOC, is set to roll out.
Over the years, ExxonMobil Guyana has been supporting the University of Guyana (UG) by providing funding for developmental programmes, equipment and research. Now, UG will once again benefit from additional support through the US$100 million (GY$20 billion) Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), unveiled last week.
GGI’s capacity development efforts will include programmes designed in consultation with Guyana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the Centre for Local Business Development and UG. The initiative will also focus on supporting regional initiatives and capacity development of diverse sectors including health and agriculture.
Greater Guyana Initiative fully funded by Stabroek Block co-venturers – ExxonMobil
Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, says that this support from the oil major will change the lives of students and will have spin-off effects for the people of Guyana.
“It is the beginning of a wonderful set of events, of projects, of impactful activities that will change the lives of many of our students at the University and indeed change the face of the University for the better,” the Vice Chancellor said.
She added that the impact will stretch beyond the University, the students, and staff. “As you know, everything that we do at the University is focused on students, staff and citizens’ success. It’s helping us to boost our innovation and bring the research that is being done by our campus to the market and to a wider space where it can be monetized or at least others can learn from it.”
Such a positive potential ripple effect has already been seen from ExxonMobil’s support to the institution. Back in 2019, the company provided UG with US$20,0000 to fund the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry’s (FAF) ‘Gasifier Project.’ That research project was intended to examine how biomass from trees could be used to produce energy as well as fertilizer.
ExxonMobil also provided the institution with US$40,000 in equipment for the Faculty of Natural Science and a US$20,000 contribution to revitalize UG’s radio station – 95.5 Intelligent Radio – as part of a long-standing partnership between the energy company and the University.
