NCDMB, Seplat Firm up Plans for Take-off of Gas Development Centre at DELSU

Senior officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and Seplat Energy Plc have intensified efforts to operationalise a proposed Centre of Excellence in Gas Development at Delta State University, marking a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s research and innovation capacity in the oil and gas sector.
At a high-level engagement held Monday at the university’s campus in Abraka, Delta State, both organisations met with the institution’s principal officers to finalise critical frameworks required for the take-off of the project, which was approved in 2024.

The DELSU centre is the latest in a growing network of specialised research hubs being established across Nigeria, following similar initiatives at institutions including Niger Delta University, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University.

These centres stem from a long-term research and development roadmap commissioned by the NCDMB and developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s oil and gas industry through innovation, local capacity development, and stronger institutional linkages.

Representing the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, revealed that extensive engagements between the Board and Seplat Energy since 2024 had culminated in a clearly defined project scope.

According to him, the framework addresses not only infrastructure and equipment needs, but also critical pillars such as capacity development, research governance, and long-term sustainability.

He confirmed that both organisations have now formally endorsed the project scope and are ready to commence implementation, with a team of technical experts already assembled to oversee delivery. To further strengthen execution, the Board has expanded its internal project team to include additional senior personnel at general manager level.

Dr. Halilu emphasised that the leadership of the Board remains fully committed to the initiative, noting that dedicated teams across quality assurance, research and development, and operational units have been mobilised to ensure successful delivery.

For Seplat Energy, the choice of DELSU is both strategic and operational. The company’s Nigerian Content Manager, Mr. Simeon Ogari, noted that the university’s proximity to its key assets—particularly the ANOH Gas Processing Plant—made it an ideal host for the centre.

The ANOH facility, a 300 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) project developed in partnership with the Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company, represents a major pillar in Nigeria’s gas expansion ambitions.

Ogari described the proposed centre as a potential hub for advanced research and technology incubation that would benefit not only the university but also the broader oil and gas industry and the Nigerian economy.

He underscored the importance of collaboration, referencing the globally recognised “Triple Helix Model,” which integrates government, academia, and industry as co-drivers of innovation. According to him, the success of the DELSU centre will depend heavily on how effectively these three pillars work together.

Providing further context, Mr. Leonard Okafor, Chief Executive Officer of GOSHEN, the project’s management firm, highlighted key findings from the PwC study that informed the initiative.

He noted that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector still operates largely as an “enclave economy,” with weak linkages to other sectors. The establishment of research centres such as the one at DELSU, he said, is designed to address these structural gaps by deepening local content and fostering cross-sector innovation.

The study identified five critical areas for strengthening research and development in the industry: collaboration, infrastructure, capability development, commercial and legal frameworks, and sustainable funding.

Okafor stressed that effective collaboration—particularly the involvement of well-published academics with strong research credentials—would be essential to achieving the centre’s objectives.

He also outlined expectations from the host institution, including the provision of research and administrative personnel, as well as key policy frameworks covering research, finance, and procurement.

Responding on behalf of the university, Vice Chancellor Professor Samuel Oghenovo Asagba welcomed the initiative, describing it as a world-class opportunity that would elevate DELSU’s research profile.

He assured stakeholders of the institution’s readiness to meet all requirements necessary for the project’s successful take-off, highlighting the university’s strong academic base and research capabilities, particularly in science and engineering disciplines.

Professor Asagba also pointed to the university’s recent recognition by Times Higher Education in 2026 as the best state-owned university in Nigeria, noting that its faculty strength positions it well for impactful collaboration.

Also speaking, the NCDMB General Manager for Quality Assurance, Mr. Chris Osuji, reiterated that his department would play a central role throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that delivery meets the highest standards from inception to completion.

In closing remarks, the Board’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Silas Ajimijaye, commended Seplat Energy for its funding commitment and urged the university to leverage the project as a legacy initiative.

Similarly, DELSU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Douglason Omotor, pledged the institution’s full cooperation, assuring that the centre would be supported by competent academics and experienced administrators.

As Nigeria intensifies efforts to leverage its vast gas resources for industrialisation and energy transition, the planned Centre of Excellence at DELSU represents more than an academic investment. It signals a deliberate push toward integrating research, policy, and industry in a way that could redefine local participation and innovation in the oil and gas sector.

With alignment now secured among key stakeholders, attention is shifting from planning to execution—setting the stage for what could become a critical node in Nigeria’s evolving gas development ecosystem.