NNPCL, SNEPCo, NCDMB Commission UNILAG Geoscience  Centre To Increase Capacity

Nigeria’s drive to deepen in-country technical capacity in the oil and gas sector received a major boost as NNPC Limited, in partnership with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, SNEPCo, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, commissioned a state-of-the-art Geosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Lagos.

The facility, inaugurated at the weekend, is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by equipping students and researchers with modern tools for geoscience training and energy research.

Speaking at the event, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services Ltd., NUIMS, Olanrewaju Igandan, said the project underscores the industry’s commitment to building local expertise.

The Centre, which was donated to the university, features a 250-seat auditorium, advanced laboratories, a seismic interpretation room, and a digital museum, among other facilities.

*The state-of-the-art Geosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Lagos commissioned by NNPC Limited, SNEPCo and NCDMB

Managing Director of SNEPCo, Ronald Adams, and Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele, were among top officials present at the commissioning, alongside Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, and UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.

Industry stakeholders said the facility would reduce reliance on foreign institutions for training and testing, while strengthening Nigeria’s human capital base in the energy sector.

According to the partners, the Centre will provide hands-on experience for students and researchers, enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to the country’s oil and gas industry.

The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to localise technical competencies and support sustainable growth in Nigeria’s energy sector.

NNPC Limited reaffirmed its commitment to capacity development, noting that collaborations such as this are critical to securing the future of the nation’s oil and gas industry.