By David Owei

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) have launched a US$9 million professorial chair endowment programme across six Nigerian universities to develop commercially viable solutions to industry challenges, strengthen local research capacity and advance technological innovation.

Under the Nigerian Content Research and Development (NC-R&D) Professorial Chair Endowment Programme, each university is to receive US$1.5 million to establish a specialised professorial chair focused on agreed industry research priorities. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the NCDMB, under the supervision of its Planning, Research and Statistics Directorate.

The schools include 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 kick-off ceremony, NLNG’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Adeleye Falade, described the programme as an investment in Nigeria’s capacity to translate academic knowledge into practical solutions. His keynote address, titled “Reshaping Nigeria’s Future Through Innovation, Research and Capacity Development,” emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between government, industry and academia.

“In the energy industry, we understand that technology and energy systems are evolving and the requirement for sustained research cannot be overemphasised,” Falade said.

He noted that the programme would support research into challenges central to the energy industry’s future, including improving operational efficiency, managing emissions, strengthening safety, maintaining critical infrastructure and making industrial processes more sustainable.

Beyond the research endowments, Falade outlined opportunities for a “triple helix” approach that brings government, industry and academia together through specialised programmes, sabbaticals, exchange opportunities, practical testing of research assumptions and the joint development of postgraduate curricula.

The six beneficiary universities will undertake research in distinct areas and the NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at Rivers State University is envisaged as the coordinating point for these collaborations among the universities. Falade said discussions were already under way with the university on implementation arrangements and commended its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, for his role in advancing the proposed collaboration. We have already gotten indications of other partners like Google, Cisco and MTN who showing interest to support this initiative, he said.

Falade also highlighted the opportunities for younger researchers to deepen their expertise, investigate industry problems and learn from experienced academics and practitioners. He urged the beneficiary institutions to build on the endowments by strengthening research partnerships, attracting additional funding and pursuing the commercialisation of intellectual property.

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

Acknowledging NCDMB’s role in bringing the initiative to fruition, Falade called for sustained commitment to technology transfer and the development of home-grown solutions without compromising quality assurance or safety. He emphasised that the programme’s lasting value would lie in stronger institutions, research outcomes deployed in the field and the development of the next generation of Nigerian researchers and industry professionals.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe said the US$9 million endowment programme represents a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem.

The initiative, he said, complements the Board’s ongoing investments in research infrastructure, including the establishment of specialized R&D Centres of Excellence across six universities in the country.

He added that “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.”

Represented by the Senior Technical Adviser, Engr. Austin Uzoka, the Executive Secretary underscored that by supporting specialized professorial chairs in critical areas of the industry operations, NLNG and NCDMB is creating opportunities to bridge the longstanding gap between academic research and industrial application.

He further charged the universities to deliberately transition from research for publication to research for application, and from innovation as an academic pursuit to innovation as a driver of industrial transformation. According to him “the beneficiary universities must see this endowment as both an opportunity and a responsibility and they would be expected to deliver clearly defined research objectives, measurable outcomes, prudent resource utilization, effective stakeholder engagement, and sustained collaboration with industry partners.”

He further demanded that “these professorial chairs will generate commercially viable solutions, strengthen local technological capabilities, support industrial competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.”

Details of the endowment indicates that the University of Ibadan will focus on natural gas processing, pollution control and environmental management, while Rivers State University will concentrate on digital engineering, intelligent energy systems, automation and asset integrity.

Modibbo Adama University will undertake research in energy transition and the environment. Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology will focus on sustainable energy innovation and climate-resilient food systems.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will specialise in green energy production and geoenvironmental engineering, while Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, will focus on geoscience and satellite intelligence for resilient gas infrastructure.

Each university will work towards agreed research targets and commercialisation pathways, providing a framework for measuring progress and translating findings into practical applications. The institutions will also jointly host an information management hub to support knowledge sharing and exchange programmes.

The funding includes provision for minor civil works and infrastructure upgrades to transform identified spaces into fit-for-purpose research centres.

Proposed arrangements would enable industry professionals to contribute practical expertise in technical and non-technical disciplines while pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees. This would give students greater exposure to industry experience while strengthening the connection between postgraduate study and practical problem-solving.

The programme reinforces NLNG’s commitment to developing Nigerian capability and creating opportunities for local expertise to address industry needs, guided by its recently approved ‘NextGen Nigerian Content Strategy’ where NLNG plans to Sustain the gains

through focused delivery of previous commitments in alignment with NCDMB; Enable its business by facilitating deeper adoption Nigerian Content Development as a business principle and Accelerate growth by showing up and support the Nigerian Content transformation for posterity, in line with its vision of inspiring a sustainable future.

“Start Local, Go Global, Think Nigerian Content.”

By George Mgbeleke
Former Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL), Mele Kyari refuted Tuesday alleged unaccounted N210trillion in the balance sheet of the National oil company as contained in the 2017 to 2023 Audit report .

Mele Kyari who made the rebuttal to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts declared that no such financial infraction happened under him as Chief Executive of NNPCL from 2019 to 2025 .

He said the alleged unaccounted figures arose from accounting entries which have nothing to do with financial loss .

“I wish to confirm that nothing was lost. It is simply not possible that such an amount could have been lost under my care and leadership.

“The matter relates to accounting entries, which have nothing to do with any financial loss.

“They are bookkeeping issues, and I believe the appropriate explanations have been provided in my report”, he said .

He also declared that the N5billion allegedly spent on change of name from NNPC to NNPCL , waa untrue as there was no spending like that under his watch just as he refuted queries raised in the audit report on registration and incorporation of NNPC Ltd.

He said : ” At the time of incorporation, the company was not owned by the Federation in the same manner.

“The Federation was therefore responsible for the payment relating to the incorporation of NNPC.

“However, NNPC made the payment on behalf of the Federation and subsequently charged it to the Federation’s revenue, which was reflected in what we referred to as the former NAPIMS account of NNPC.

“This was simply an accounting entry, involving approximately N2.99 billion.

“It was a payment made to government institutions responsible for providing the relevant services.

“I have also seen comments suggesting that N5 billion was paid for the naming of the company. That is not correct”.

He added by informing the Senator Ibrahim Dankwabo led committee that NNPCL under him was transformed from loss incurring corporation to a profit making company .

According to him , before his assumption of office as Group Managing Director of NNPC in 2019 , the national oil company had a huge loss of $803billion in 2018 operational year , which gradually turned to o profit making under him from 2019 .

” Mr Chairman, you may be aware from the financial records that the company recorded a loss of about $803billion in 2018.

“I took over in 2019, and we did everything possible to transform the company into a profitable organisation which made it to for the first time in its 44 years of existence, recording sustained profits”

Satisfied with the submissions of Kyari , the Committee through its Chairman said , , responses submitted to the queries shall be thoroughly studied for final decision on the audit report .

” We shall interrogate the figures submitted by the former GMD to know whether to Invite him again or not .

” For now , he has responded to the two issues relating to his leadership of NNPC during the period under review “, he said .

By David Owei

Communities and stakeholders along the Eastern Gas Network (EGN) have given the Nigeria National Petroleum Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), and
Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) a two-week ultimatum to settle outstanding payments to surveillance contractors and guards of the gas pipelines.

The communities also demanded for inclusion in all corporate social responsibility packages of both companies.

Speaking on behalf of the EGN host communities and stakeholders at a press conference in Port Harcourt, HRH, Eze Peter Wagbara, paramount ruler (Nye Nwe Ali) of Elele-Alimini Community in Rivers State said the communities are concerned that the surveillance contractors and guards are being owed backlog of their entitlements adding that this has adversely affected families that depend on the stipends for their survival.

He said the prolonged delay in the payment has created anxiety and dissatisfaction amongst members of the communities.

Wagbara warned that if the situation persists, it could undermine the goodwill existing among the communities, PINL and NNPCL.

“The surveillance guards have families and responsibilities. They depend on the timely payment of their earnings to meet basic needs, while community stakeholders have continued to support the programme and mobilise their people in the interest of pipeline security.

“The prolonged delay has understandably created anxiety, dissatisfaction, and uncertainty among our people. We are concerned that if this situation persists, it could undermine the goodwill and confidence that have been painstakingly built between the host PINL and NNPCL”.

The monarch emphasized that their ultimatum did not connote a withdrawal of their support for pipeline protection, but an appeal for the prompt fulfilment of the obligations that sustain their participation and commitment.

The communities therefore called on PINL and its client, NNPCL, to take immediate steps to reconcile all outstanding obligations and commence the reconciliation and payment of the full backlog owed to surveillance contractors, guards, and eligible community stakeholders along the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network.

They also demanded that both organisations should ensure that the payment of surveillance contractors, guards, and eligible stakeholders resumes promptly and is sustained in accordance with agreed contractual and administrative arrangements.

Wagbara added that Eastern Gas Pipeline host communities should be formally integrated into PINL and NNPCL scholarship, youth and women empowerment, and other community development programmes, based on transparent eligibility criteria.

The communities further requested that PINL and NNPCL should engage recognised traditional rulers and community stakeholders to communicate a clear payment schedule, address outstanding concerns, and establish a sustainable mechanism for resolving future disputes.

“We hereby give PINL and NNPCL a two-week grace period from the date of this public statement to resolve the outstanding payment issues and demonstrate concrete action towards the inclusion of our communities in relevant CSR programmes.

“We expect this period to result in meaningful progress, including the settlement of the backlog, the resumption of regular payments, and the formal inclusion of our communities’ in the relevant development initiatives, ” the communities stated.

They however noted that the operations of PINL has ushered in peace and security in their communities and along the gas lines, adding that their ultimatum was not intended to undermine the operations of PINL or NNPCL, nor was an attempt to discourage investment in their region.

They insisted that their demand was a necessary appeal for fairness, accountability, and the fulfilment of obligations to communities that have embraced the responsibility of protecting critical national infrastructure.

“Our communities have keyed into the vision of community-based pipeline surveillance. Our people understand the strategic importance of the Eastern Gas Pipeline Network to national energy security and economic development, and they have continued to contribute to its protection.

“We remain committed to peaceful engagement and constructive dialogue. However, the patience of our people must not be mistaken for an absence of legitimate concerns.