The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas and the Nigerian Content Board, NCDMB, have launched a new research centre at Rivers State University to strengthen Nigeria’s technology and engineering capacity.
The NLNG Research and Innovation Centre will focus on computer and electrical engineering, with training and solutions tailored for the energy and industrial sectors.
It is NLNG’s largest human capital development project to date. The centre will also house a professorial chair and a research hub to drive industry-focused solutions.
Speaking at the event, NLNG MD Adeleye Falade described it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
Falade, who was represented by NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the Centre would strengthen the University’s ability to produce highly skilled professionals and conduct research that responds directly to industry needs.
He added that RICCEE would strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and practical industry requirements, enabling researchers and professionals to collaborate on innovations with commercial and developmental relevance.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Director, Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, described the groundbreaking ceremony as an important milestone in the implementation of the Board’s Human Capital Development objectives.
He stated that the project forms part of the Board’s Human Capital Development Institutional Strengthening Programme, which seeks to build enduring partnerships with institutions of higher learning by providing infrastructure that enhances teaching, research, innovation, and practical skills development.
The NCDMB boss challenged the Centre to become a vibrant hub of discovery, creativity, enterprise, and technological advancement, where students are inspired to innovate, researchers develop solutions to real-world challenges, and industry finds reliable partners for research and development.
He also commended NLNG for its firm belief and commitment in the project, and also lauded the Governing Council, the Vice-Chancellor, and the Management of Rivers State University for their commitment to academic excellence.
Speaking on the importance of the project, the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said the University’s 2026–2030 strategic development plan prioritises improving academic programmes and strengthening research collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship. He noted that the RICCEE Centre would provide a vital platform for advancing these objectives.
“We envisage the Centre as a world-class hub where researchers and students can develop practical solutions to engineering and technological challenges, where university-industry collaboration can flourish, and where innovative ideas can be transformed into useful products, technologies and services. The presence of NLNG and NCDMB today underscores the immense value of strategic partnerships.”
He expressed his gratitude to NLNG and NCDMB and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to ensuring that the Centre is utilised productively to strengthen research, build human capacity, foster innovation and deepen collaboration with industry and educational institutions.
The Centre will be developed on approximately is 9,336sqm, square metres of land within Rivers State University and will accommodate specialised laboratories for Electronics and Signal Processing, Robotics and Embedded Systems, Software Engineering, and Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity, among other facilities.
The laboratories are designed with in-built offices and storage areas to support research, teaching, equipment management and technical administration.
The building will also incorporate sustainability features, including provision for solar energy, energy-efficient lighting and environmentally responsible systems intended to reduce operating costs and support reliable research activities.
