Segun Atanda/
A major boost to Nigeria’s oil, gas, and environmental research capacity was recorded on Friday as Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, in partnership with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, commissioned a state-of-the-art Geosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Lagos.
The landmark facility, a five-storey edifice, is designed as a world-class hub for advanced teaching, research, and industry collaboration in geosciences, a critical backbone of Nigeria’s energy and natural resources sector.
Equipped with cutting-edge laboratories and digital infrastructure, the centre houses specialised facilities for hydrogeology, mineralogy, environmental geology, as well as a seismic laboratory and interpretation suite. It also features a modern library and digital museum aimed at enriching academic and practical learning.
Industry stakeholders at the commissioning described the project as a strategic intervention to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign institutions for technical training, testing, and research in the oil and gas value chain.
Managing Director of SNEPCo, Ronald Adams, framed the initiative as a long-term human capital investment.
“This Centre represents a long-term investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset: its people,” he said.
Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tola Sule, noted that the facility would shift learning from theory to practice, creating an environment where students gain hands-on experience.
Echoing this sentiment, Olanrewaju Igandan, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, described the project as proof of what collaboration between industry, regulators, and academia can achieve.
“This is a testament to a shared vision for national development,” he said.
On the regulatory front, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, represented by Abayomi Bamidele, stressed that the true value of the centre would lie in its outputs.
“The success of this centre will be measured by the number of skilled graduates, the quality of research, and the solutions it provides to industry challenges,” he said.
Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, outlined an ambitious roadmap for the facility, revealing that it would deliver internationally benchmarked research services, degree programmes, executive training, and professional certifications tailored to industry and government needs.
Originally conceived in 2010, the project was executed by indigenous firm 225MM Construct Limited, underscoring the role of local capacity in delivering complex infrastructure.
Notably, students from UNILAG, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, and Yaba College of Technology participated in the construction process through internship programmes, gaining hands-on technical exposure.
The centre adds to a growing portfolio of educational interventions by SNEPCo and its partners, including scholarships, science laboratory donations to secondary schools, and e-learning centres across universities in Delta, Enugu, Edo, and Bayelsa states.
With this latest investment, stakeholders say Nigeria is taking a decisive step toward building a self-sustaining knowledge ecosystem capable of driving innovation, reducing capital flight, and strengthening local content in the energy sector.
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