PROFILES OF INDIVIDUALS/COMPANIES BEHIND COGEND

What follows is a short profile of some of the individuals and companies behind COGEND.

Profile of Engr.(Dr.) B. E. Okah-Avae, Chairman, Board Of Directors

Engr. Dr. Benson Evezi Okah-Avae can be described as a rounded Professional Engineer and Manager of over 35 years experience.

A 1968 Shell Scholar, he graduated in 1971 at the age of 23 years with a 1 st class honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, and in 1978, using a Commonwealth Scholarship, obtained the Doctor of Philosophy of the Victoria University Of Manchester, UK, also in Mechanical Engineering. His working career has taken him through the Oil and Gas industry, the Power Industry, the Academia, the steel Industry and several years in Consulting. He is currently the MD/CE of BEAVAKON LTD, an outfit of Consulting Engineers and Surveyors where he is giving guidance to several engineers and other professionals in project design and management.

He became a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers ( FNSE ) in 1990 and a Fellow of the Institute of Diagnostic Engineers, UK ( F, I Diag E ) in 1991. He has several publications in local and International journals and has authored two major engineering books. He is married with children and grand children: he was a keen cricketer in his early days at Government College, Ughelli: but he now enjoys playing squash.

Profile of Mr. Moses Kragha, Director

Mr. Moses O. Kragha

Moses Ovigho Kragha has a First Degree in Oil Technology and an M.Sc in Reservoir Engineering from Imperial College of Science & Technology, University of London. He also has a Diploma in Business Studies. He has a varied work experience spanning over forty years with Shell/BP, NCB London, Akel Consultants Croydon, PCL Lagos, and Kragha & Associates, Lagos. His areas of expertise include Petroleum Exploration, Reserves Assessment, Acquisition and Management, Oil and Gas Economics, Legislation and Policies, Oil and Gas field Development Planning and Management, Gas Pricing, Supply Scheduling and Distribution; Gas Contract Agreement Preparation; Solid Minerals Exploration and Exploitation; and Human Resource Development

Moses Kragha has been the Managing Director of Kragha & Associates (Mining and Petroleum Consultants) since 1975 and is currently also the Chairman of KVRMT Laboratory Services Limited and Securities Transaction and Trust Company Limited.

He is the Nigeria Country Adviser of INSTOK (Norwegian Oil and Gas partners)

He is the President of Delta Environment Net Work (DEENET) an NGO that focuses on environmental protection, development and substance through community education and empowerment. Mr. Kragha has at different times been a fellow of the Institute of Petroleum, London and a Member of Society of Petroleum Engineers, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists and the Nigerian Institute of Management Consultant

PROFILE OF ENGR. G. D. AKPERI ( FNSE )

Engineer Gbesimi Daultry Akperi has had over 35years in the Oil Industry with varied experience in Production Equipment Maintenance, geophysical engineering, training and Project Management gained both locally and internationally.

He worked in Shell Petroleum development Company, Schlumberger and Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun.

He has been in Government for over six years as special Adviser to Governor of Delta State on Petroleum Matters.

He had a B. Eng degree in Mechanical Engineering and M. Eng in Industrial Engineering from University Of Benin, Benin City.

Profile of Engr Onataze Tata Messiri , Director

Engr. Tata Messiri holds a B.Sc degree in Electrical Engineering with Second Class Honours, Upper Division from the University of Lagos. A consummate professional engineer and organizer, Engr. Messiri has attended numerous workshops both in Nigeria and abroad either as a participant or as a resource person or as an organizer. He holds a Level II Certificate in Radiography, UltraSonic Penetrant Testing and Magnetic Testing awarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He is a regular member of the American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT). He is also the current Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Asaba Branch. He is equally the Managing Partnerof Tata Messiri Consultants a frontline Engineering Consulting firm. Tata as he is fondly called by his peers is a visionary driving force of COGEND.

Profile of Engr Sam E. Itopa, Director

Engr. Samuel Itopa is a Professional Structural Engineer who holds a B.Eng Degree in Civil Engineering with Second Class Honours , Upper Division from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Engr. Itopa , a Felow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has held numerous positions in the engineering body including Chairman of the Warri Branch of NSE. Engr. Itopa has numerous Structural Engineering designs to his credit and is a specialist in the design, fabrication, erection and rehabilitation of all types of steel structures. He was once the Assistant Chief Engineer of Delta Steel Company Ltd. (DSC), Aladja near Warri and has had stints in numerous high profile projects including the Akpo Field Development Project under the auspices of Technip-Grinaker LTA.