Union Oil, an oil marketing company, has commended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Science and Technology (KNUST) for its resolve to deepen collaboration with the private sector.

The University, Ghana’s premier science and technology tertiary educational training facility, had as part of its strategic plan rolled out pragmatic public-partnership programmes (PPP) intend to bring infrastructure and academic facilities to international standards.

The strategy is also aimed at strengthening its financial base to complement Government’s budgetary allocation to the University for effective administrative and academic operations.

Mr Charles Obeng-Mensah, Managing Director of Union Oil, said it is appropriate for the private sector and corporate institutions to invest in science and technology education to generate a vibrant and creative pool of technocrats and scientists to spearhead the nation’s development processes.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the KNUST Union Oil Filling Station, Kumasi, over the weekend.

The facility, which would be run on a build-operate-and-transfer basis, is expected to provide services to the University and its environs.

Mr Obeng-Mensah appealed to the University authorities to strive to facilitate the processes for the construction of a gas filling plant at the site.

Established 10 years ago, the company has more than 80 stations across the country and adjudged the Fifth Best Oil Marketing Company last year.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said by dint of hard work on the part of the authorities, the KNUST Police Station had now been elevated to a District status.

The University, he said, recently inaugurated the Jubilee Shopping Mall and Fire Station, as well as a state-of-the-art Information, Communications and Technology facility to bolster socio-economic activities on the University campus.

He assured of more partnerships with the private sector to engineer the University to the path of becoming a centre of excellence.