Nigeria to launch oil and gas research and development fund utilisation protocol

MINISTER of state for petroleum resources Chief Timipre Sylva has announced plans to launch an oil and gas research and development fund utilisation protocol first mooted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Fund (NCDMB).

To be launched next week, the project is part of a government plan to add as much value to the Nigerian petroleum industry. As part of the launch, Chief Sylva will also inaugurate a research and development 10-year strategic roadmap, as well as a Technology Innovation and Incubation centre established by the NCDMB.

He will be performing the three functions at the second edition of the NCDMB’s research and development fair and conference slated for September 9, 2021 in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. This year's event is themed Creating Sustainable Collaboration in Research and Development for the Energy Sector.

Simbi Wabote, the NCDMB executive secretary, said the research and development fair was intended to bring together industry stakeholders, academia and researchers towards achieving a common agenda as a pillar for sustainable local content.  He added that the maiden edition of the fair organized in 2017 witnessed exhibition of research breakthroughs and facilitation of linkages between researchers and end-users in the oil and gas industry.

Mr Wabote listed the progress recorded through the research and development fair to include the establishment of Nigerian Content Research and Development Council, with a mandate to advise the board on matters relating to research and development in the oil and gas industry. Others, he said, included the development of the 10-year strategic road map, the development of frameworks for supporting research breakthroughs to products for industry application and the fact that over 20 researchers are benefiting from the board’s intervention.

“The board has concluded plans to host the second edition of the NCDMB Research and Development Fair and Conference with the theme Creating Sustainable Collaboration in Research and Development, through hybrid participation in compliance with Covid-19 protocols. It promises to feature presentation of research breakthroughs, panel discussion on research and development pillars of success and a special feature on how Nigeria can adopt a sustainable acceleration programme for launching innovative ideas into the market,” Mr Wabote added.

He mentioned other forms of progress recorded from the fair as the creation of a $50m research and development fund and the inauguration of the technical advisory board on Nigerian content research and development. Also listed was the signing of a memorandum of understanding to establish research and development centres of excellence in five universities.