Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have committed $9 million (N12.78 billion) to establish professorial research chairs in six Nigerian universities to strengthen local research capacity and drive innovation.
The beneficiary institutions are the University of Ibadan; Rivers State University (RSU); Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUST), Kano; University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka; and the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).
NLNG Managing Director, Adeleye Falade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
The statement was jointly signed by NLNG General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, and NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Obinna Ezeobi.
The initiative, themed “Reshaping Nigeria’s Future Through Innovation, Research and Capacity Development”, is designed to strengthen local research capabilities and develop practical solutions to industry challenges.
Falade said each university would receive $1.5 million (N2.13 billion) under the Nigerian Content Research and Development Professorial Chair Endowment Programme.
He said the programme was being implemented in partnership with NCDMB under the supervision of its Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics.
Falade described the endowment as an investment in Nigeria’s ability to translate academic knowledge into practical solutions through collaboration among government, industry and universities.
The research will address industry challenges, including operational efficiency, emissions management, safety, critical infrastructure and sustainable industrial processes, he said.
He added that the initiative would promote collaboration through specialised programmes, academic exchanges, sabbaticals, practical research and joint postgraduate curriculum development.
According to him, the six universities will undertake research in different fields, with the NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering at Rivers State University serving as the coordinating centre.
Falade said discussions were ongoing with the university on implementation arrangements, commending its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, for supporting the collaboration.
He also disclosed that prospective partners, including Google, Cisco and MTN, had indicated interest in supporting the initiative.
The NLNG managing director urged the beneficiary institutions to attract additional research grants, strengthen partnerships and commercialise intellectual property generated through the programme.
He stressed the need for sustained commitment to technology transfer and locally developed solutions without compromising quality assurance and safety standards.
Also speaking, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, urged the universities to prioritise practical research capable of addressing challenges in the oil and gas industry.
Ogbe described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s research and innovation ecosystem, saying it would connect academic expertise, modern research infrastructure, industry needs and commercialisation opportunities.
He expressed confidence that the professorial chairs would help bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application.
The NCDMB executive secretary urged the institutions to move beyond research for publication to research that delivers practical applications and drives industrial transformation.
He said the universities would be expected to deliver measurable research outcomes, ensure prudent use of resources and sustain collaboration with industry partners.
“They will work towards agreed research targets and commercialisation pathways to ensure practical application of their findings.
“The arrangement will strengthen the relationship between postgraduate education and practical industry problem-solving,” he said.
Ogbe said the funding would also support research centre infrastructure upgrades and create opportunities for industry professionals to contribute practical expertise while pursuing postgraduate degrees.
Under the programme, the University of Ibadan will focus on natural gas processing, pollution control and environmental management.
Rivers State University will undertake research in digital engineering, intelligent energy systems, automation and asset integrity, while Modibbo Adama University will focus on energy transition and the environment.
Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology will research sustainable energy innovation and climate-resilient food systems, while the University of Nigeria will specialise in green energy production and geoenvironmental engineering.
The University of Abuja will focus on geoscience and satellite intelligence for resilient gas infrastructure.
