Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has invested a total of $12 million in six Nigerian universities as part of efforts to develop research and engineering in the institutions.
It said the investment was part of its social responsibility to the universities to build a better country. The benefiting universities are University of Ilorin, University of Port Harcourt, University of Maiduguri, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
It was gathered that the choice of the universities was based on their high standards; sources close to the NLNG told THISDAY that $2 million was invested in each institution for the building and equipping of standard engineering research centre for the advancement of technology in the country.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ultra-modern NLNG Engineering Research Centre built for the University of Ilorin recently, the Chairman of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa said, “with today’s commissioning of the multi-million naira engineering research centre, NLNG is supporting the university’s mission of providing a world class environment for learning, research and community service.
“The UNILORIN support programme is another chapter in our momentous journey to build an even greater company to bequeath to our successors and to Nigeria.”
Omotowa added: “It is another feather in NLNG’s cap as a socially responsible corporate organisation and as part of our commitment to education; we also award scholarship to thousands of deserving young Nigerians at secondary school, university and postgraduate levels.
“We also endow the Nigeria Prize for Science and the Nigeria Prize for Literature worth $100,000 each, and built and run the Bonny Vocational Centre, which awards the International Technical Vocation, level 3 certificate of London City and Guilds and the Nigerian Skills Technical Certificate to graduates.”
He added that the UNILORIN engineering research centre is the fourth of its kind by the organisation and charged other corporate organisations in the country to maintain connection to people and society and play a participatory role in helping to evolve a better country.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, lauded the giant stride of the NLNG in the quest to develop the universities’ research and engineering support, adding that the gesture would improve the technological growth of the country.
Ambali assured the company that the centre donated to the university would be properly used to move the country forward.
