NLNG, 6 varsities seal N2 billion engineering support deal

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited Friday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), worth over N2 billion, with six Nigerian universities towards improving the nation’s engineering education capacity.

The ceremony, which initiates the implementation part of NLNG’s university support programme (NLNG USP), will see NLNG spend N340 million (about $2 million) on each of the six benefitting universities.

The sum would be used to construct modern engineering laboratories, equipped with the cutting edge equipment at University of Nigeria, Nsukka; University of Ibadan; University of Ilorin; University of Port Harcourt; University of Maiduguri; and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Speaking during the MOA signing ceremony in Abuja with the vice chancellors and other representatives of the six universities, managing director and chief executive officer of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, assured that the laboratories would be world class.

“The signing of memorandum of agreement with six universities marks the first milestone in NLNG university support programme. The memorandum of agreement spells out modalities for the execution of the programme, ranging from financing to contracts and procurement, as well as safety, quality assurance, quality control and sustainability of the universities.

“Our implementation strategy is structured to meet the universities’  technical needs and specification. Comparative advantages and peculiarities of each university were considered in this strategy, and we believe this (is) the best and most efficient model of project delivery. We also believe that one result is certain from these processes – the laboratories will be world class that will spur the development of engineering education and help bring the universities at par with their peer worldwide,” he said.

The six universities were supposedly selected based on rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC), other international bodies, as well as long standing contributions to the development of local capacity in Nigeria and their outstanding performance within each of the six geopolitical zones in the country, especially in the area of engineering and technical education and the grooming of notable engineering luminaries, who have contributed to national development.