The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced plans to collaborate with the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) on research and development initiatives. This commitment was made during the inauguration of the NAS-TY Danjuma Science Museum and Library Building at the NAS headquarters in Abuja on Monday, as revealed in a statement issued on Thursday.
Felix Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, expressed the board’s dedication to working closely with NAS, highlighting that advancing research and development is a key focus of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which the board is actively promoting.
Represented at the event by Esueme Kikile, the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Ogbe also emphasized the NCDMB’s role in driving the development of the Oloibiri Oil Museum and Research Centre. This initiative, in partnership with Shell Petroleum Company, the Bayelsa State Government, and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, aims to establish a dedicated oil research center in Nigeria after more than five decades of oil production.
“The museum will not only be a historical landmark but will also serve as a hub for research,” Ogbe remarked, stressing the importance of having a dedicated facility for oil and gas research in the country.
Kikile further highlighted that the board recognizes the critical importance of research and development to national progress, revealing that a $50 million fund has been allocated for R&D initiatives. He called for research to be treated as a vital tool for national development.
Prof. Ekanem Braide, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, also spoke at the event, noting that the museum would be a significant resource for promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). She emphasized that for sustainable national development, research must drive policy, which in turn must be implemented effectively. This, she said, requires strong collaboration between researchers, the government, industry, and communities, as well as cross-sector partnerships.
