NCDMB and NLNG Invest $9 Million in Nigerian Universities for Research

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) have started a $9 million programme to support research chairs in six Nigerian universities. This programme aims to find practical solutions to industry challenges, boost local research, and promote new technologies.

Each university will get $1.5 million to set up a specialized professorial chair. This chair will focus on key industry research areas. The NCDMB is working with these universities, and the Planning, Research and Statistics Directorate is overseeing the initiative.

The universities involved are the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, Rivers State University, Modibbo Adama University in Yola, Adamawa State, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Kano State, University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State, and Yakubu Gowon University, which used to be the University of Abuja.

At the launch event, NLNG’s Managing Director and CEO, Adeleye Falade, called the programme an investment in Nigeria’s ability to turn academic knowledge into real solutions. In his speech titled “Reshaping Nigeria’s Future Through Innovation, Research and Capacity Development,” he talked about the need for ongoing teamwork among government, industry, and schools.

Falade said, “In the energy industry, we understand that technology and energy systems are evolving and the requirement for sustained research cannot be overemphasised.” He added that the programme will help research on important energy industry issues. This includes improving how things work, managing emissions, ensuring safety, maintaining infrastructure, and making industrial processes more sustainable.

Apart from the research funding, Falade mentioned a “triple helix” approach. This brings together government, industry, and academia through special programmes, sabbaticals, exchange opportunities, practical testing of research ideas, and developing postgraduate courses.

The six universities will research different topics. The NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at Rivers State University will coordinate the collaborations. Falade noted that talks are already happening with the university about how to implement this plan. He praised the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, for promoting the collaboration. He mentioned interest from partners like Google, Cisco, and MTN to support this programme.

Falade also pointed out the chances for younger researchers to improve their skills, tackle industry problems, and learn from experienced professionals. He encouraged the universities to build on the funding by forming strong research partnerships, seeking more money, and turning research ideas into marketable products.

“Expand the scope, reach for more grants and funding which can push the frontiers of knowledge and commercialisation of intellectual property,” he said.

He praised NCDMB’s efforts in making this programme happen and called for continuous support for technology transfer. He emphasized that the programme should lead to stronger institutions and research that can be used in real-world situations. It should also help develop the next generation of Nigerian researchers and industry professionals.

Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, mentioned that the $9 million funding is a smart investment in Nigeria’s research and innovation future. He said this initiative adds to the Board’s ongoing investments, including setting up specialized R&D Centres of Excellence in six universities.

He stated, “Taken together, these interventions demonstrate the Nigerian oil and gas industry’s commitment to creating an integrated research ecosystem that connects academic expertise, modern research infrastructure, industry requirements, and commercialization opportunities.”

Austin Uzoka, the Senior Technical Adviser, represented Ogbe and highlighted that supporting specialized research chairs will help connect academic research with industry needs. He urged the universities to shift their focus from research just for journals to research that can be used in the industry.

Ogbe added, “The beneficiary universities must see this endowment as both an opportunity and a responsibility. They should deliver clear research goals, measurable results, wise use of resources, good stakeholder engagement, and keep working with industry partners.”

He stressed that these professorial chairs should lead to practical solutions that improve local technology and support the oil and gas industry’s long-term sustainability.

The endowment plan indicates that the University of Ibadan will focus on natural gas processing and environmental management. Rivers State University will work on digital engineering and intelligent energy systems. Modibbo Adama University will research energy transition and the environment.

Aliko Dangote University will focus on sustainable energy and climate-resilient food systems. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will study green energy production and geoenvironmental engineering. Yakubu Gowon University will research geoscience and satellite intelligence for gas infrastructure.

Each university will aim for specific research goals and commercialization strategies. They will also create a hub for sharing knowledge and information. The funding will also cover minor construction and upgrades to turn certain areas into research centres.

The plan involves industry professionals sharing their knowledge while pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees. This will give students more industry experience and help link academic study with real-world problem-solving.

This programme shows NLNG’s commitment to building Nigerian skills and creating local opportunities to meet industry needs. This aligns with NLNG’s new ‘NextGen Nigerian Content Strategy’ that aims to sustain previous commitments and support Nigerian Content development for the future.