Favour Ishember, Abuja
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has challenged the six universities benefiting from its US$9 million Nigerian Content Research and Development (NC-R&D) Professorial Chair Endowment Programme to deepen research partnerships, attract more funding and commercialise intellectual property to deliver practical solutions for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, said the institutions should leverage the endowment to expand research opportunities, secure additional grants and push the frontiers of innovation through commercially viable discoveries.
He stressed that the programme offers young researchers a unique platform to build expertise, tackle industry-specific challenges and collaborate with experienced academics and professionals.
Falade urged the universities to broaden the scope of their research activities and focus on transforming innovative ideas into marketable technologies capable of addressing national and industry needs.
He also acknowledged the role played by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in bringing the initiative to reality, calling for sustained commitment to technology transfer and the development of indigenous solutions without compromising quality assurance and safety.
According to him, the long-term success of the programme will be measured by stronger research institutions, practical innovations deployed across the industry and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian researchers and professionals.
Earlier, NCDMB and NLNG launched the US$9 million professorial chair endowment programme to strengthen research capacity, promote technological innovation and develop commercially viable solutions to challenges facing the oil and gas sector.
Under the initiative, six universities will each receive US$1.5 million to establish specialised professorial chairs focused on priority industry research areas. The programme is being implemented in partnership with NCDMB through its Planning, Research and Statistics Directorate.
The beneficiary institutions are the University of Ibadan, Oyo State; Rivers State University; Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Kano State; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; and Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration, Falade described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s ability to convert academic knowledge into practical industrial solutions. He also called for stronger collaboration among government, academia and industry to drive innovation.
He noted that the energy sector requires continuous research to improve operational efficiency, reduce emissions, strengthen safety, protect critical infrastructure and promote sustainable industrial processes.
Falade further unveiled plans for a “triple helix” collaboration involving government, academia and industry through specialised programmes, sabbaticals, exchange initiatives, practical testing of research outcomes and joint postgraduate curriculum development.
According to a statement signed by Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, NCDMB, the NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at Rivers State University will coordinate collaboration among the six universities.
Falade disclosed that discussions on implementation had already commenced with Rivers State University and commended Vice-Chancellor Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi for supporting the partnership. He added that organisations including Google, Cisco and MTN have already indicated interest in supporting the initiative.
In his remarks, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the endowment as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.
Represented by Senior Technical Adviser Engr. Austin Uzoka, Ogbe said the programme complements the Board’s investments in specialised Research and Development Centres of Excellence across six universities and demonstrates the oil and gas industry’s commitment to linking academic research with commercial opportunities.
He said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between university research and industrial application, urging beneficiary institutions to shift from research for publication to research that delivers practical industrial solutions.
Ogbe said the universities are expected to meet clearly defined research targets, ensure prudent use of resources, strengthen stakeholder engagement and sustain collaboration with industry partners.
He added that the professorial chairs should produce commercially viable innovations, enhance local technological capacity, improve industrial competitiveness and contribute to the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Under the research framework, the University of Ibadan will focus on natural gas processing, pollution control and environmental management, while Rivers State University will specialise in digital engineering, intelligent energy systems, automation and asset integrity.
Modibbo Adama University will conduct research on energy transition and environmental sustainability, while Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology will focus on sustainable energy innovation and climate-resilient food systems.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will concentrate on green energy production and geo-environmental engineering, while Yakubu Gowon University will undertake research on geoscience and satellite intelligence for resilient gas infrastructure.
Each institution will work towards agreed research targets and commercialisation pathways while jointly operating an information management hub to promote knowledge sharing and exchange programmes.
The funding also covers minor civil works and infrastructure upgrades to convert selected facilities into modern research centres. Industry professionals will equally have opportunities to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees while contributing practical expertise, strengthening the link between postgraduate education and real-world problem-solving.
NLNG said the programme aligns with its NextGen Nigerian Content Strategy, aimed at sustaining previous gains, deepening Nigerian Content as a business principle and accelerating local capacity development under the vision of inspiring a sustainable future.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to the guiding principle: “Start Local, Go Global, Think Nigerian Content.”
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