NCDMB, Seplat advance plans for gas research centre at DELSU
The project targets stronger industry–academic links and local capacity in oil and gas.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Seplat Energy Plc have moved closer to the take-off of a Centre of Excellence in Gas Development at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, following a working meeting with the institution’s management.
The project, approved in 2024, is part of a wider national push to strengthen research and development capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector through partnerships between industry and academia.
It is one of several similar centres being established across the country, including at Niger Delta University, Amassoma; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Akure; and Owerri; as well as Modibbo Adama University, Yola, and Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto. The initiative is based on a 10-year research and development roadmap commissioned by NCDMB and developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, who represented the Executive Secretary, said both organisations had been working since 2024 to define the scope of the project and ensure it delivers beyond infrastructure to include research output, capacity development, and sustainability.
He said the scope had now been jointly approved by NCDMB and Seplat, with a technical team already in place to oversee implementation. According to him, the project’s standing committee has also been strengthened by adding additional management-level personnel to ensure effective delivery.
“We wish to reassure you that the Executive Secretary is fully committed to the project, not just at the development stage but through execution,” he said.
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In his remarks, Seplat Energy’s Nigerian Content Manager, Mr Simeon Ogari, said Delta State University was selected due to its proximity to the company’s operations, including the ANOH Gas Processing Plant, a 300 million standard cubic feet per day joint venture with the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company.
He said the centre would serve as a platform for research, innovation, and skills development in the gas sector, adding that collaboration between government, academia, and industry remains critical to its success.
“There is nothing as good as looking at the Triple Helix Model,” he said.
Providing background to the project, the Chief Executive Officer of GOSHEN, Mr Leonard Okafor, said the PwC study that informed the initiative found that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector still operates with weak linkages across industries, limiting value creation and local participation.
He said the research identified five key areas required to strengthen the sector: collaboration, infrastructure, capability, commercial and legal frameworks, and funding.
According to him, the success of the centre will depend heavily on strong academic participation and effective institutional cooperation.
He also outlined requirements expected from the host institution, including availability of research and administrative staff for secondment, as well as relevant policy frameworks on research, finance, and procurement.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Professor Samuel Oghenovo Asagba, welcomed the project and assured that the university would meet the requirements needed for its take-off. He said DELSU has strong academic capacity, particularly in science and engineering, and noted that the institution has been recognised for its research output.
“In science and engineering, DELSU has high-flyers,” he said.
The General Manager, Quality Assurance at NCDMB, Mr Chris Osuji, said the board would remain involved throughout the project lifecycle to ensure standards are maintained from start to finish. Also speaking, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at NCDMB, Mr Silas Ajimijaye, commended Seplat for funding support and urged the university to maximise the opportunity.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Douglason Omotor, said the university would provide the necessary academic expertise and administrative support to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
