Seplat and NCDMB Advance DELSU Gas Centre of Excellence to Boost Innovation and Local Content in Oil and Gas Sector

Nigeria’s push to unlock the full potential of its gas resources and strengthen indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector has gained renewed momentum as Seplat Energy Plc and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board conclude strategic groundwork for the take-off of a Centre of Excellence in Gas Development at Delta State University.
At a high-level engagement held in Abraka, Delta State, key management staff of NCDMB and Seplat met with the university’s principal officers to align on final implementation processes, marking a critical transition from conceptualisation to execution.
The Centre, approved in 2024, is part of a broader national framework aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s research and development (R&D) ecosystem in the oil and gas industry. It joins a network of similar Centres of Excellence already sited in strategic institutions across the country, forming a coordinated platform to drive innovation, capacity building, and technological advancement.
The initiative is rooted in a comprehensive 10-year R&D roadmap commissioned by NCDMB and developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which identified systemic gaps in Nigeria’s energy innovation value chain and recommended targeted interventions to bridge them.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB, Dr Abdulmalik Halilu, representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, disclosed that extensive consultations between the Board and Seplat since 2024 have culminated in a clearly defined project scope.
According to him, the framework encompasses world-class infrastructure, advanced research equipment, human capital development, policy formulation, and long-term sustainability strategies—key pillars required for a globally competitive Centre of Excellence.
He further revealed that both organisations have formally endorsed the scope, with a multidisciplinary team of technical experts already mobilised to oversee implementation. The Board, he added, has strengthened its internal project governance structure by deploying senior-level personnel across quality assurance, research, and operational units to ensure optimal delivery.
“We are not just committed to initiating this project but to ensuring its successful execution and sustainability,” Halilu assured, underscoring the Board’s determination to deliver a flagship research hub that meets international standards.
From an industry perspective, Seplat reaffirmed its strategic commitment to the initiative, linking it to its expanding footprint in Nigeria’s gas value chain. The company’s Nigerian Content Manager, Mr Simeon Ogari, noted that the selection of DELSU was influenced by its proximity to Seplat’s operational assets, including the ANOH Gas Processing Plant.
He described the proposed Centre as a transformative platform that would serve as a hub for advanced research, innovation, and technology incubation, with far-reaching benefits for academia, industry, and national economic development.
Ogari also emphasised the importance of collaboration, advocating for the adoption of the “Triple Helix Model”—a globally recognised framework that integrates government, academia, and industry in driving innovation.
“There is no successful research ecosystem without strong collaboration among these three pillars,” he noted, adding that the Centre must evolve into a nexus for shared knowledge, research excellence, and practical industry solutions.
Providing context on the project’s origin, the Chief Executive Officer of GOSHEN, Mr Leonard Okafor, explained that the PwC study exposed Nigeria’s long-standing “enclave economy,” characterised by weak linkages between sectors and limited local participation in value creation.
He stated that the Centre of Excellence is designed as a strategic response to these gaps, with a focus on five critical enablers: collaboration, infrastructure, capability development, commercial and legal frameworks, and sustainable funding.
Okafor stressed that attracting high-calibre researchers and fostering institutional partnerships would be central to achieving the Centre’s objectives.
He also outlined key expectations from DELSU, including the provision of qualified research and administrative personnel, as well as the establishment of robust governance frameworks covering research policy, finance, and procurement systems.
In his response, the Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Professor Samuel Oghenovo Asagba, expressed deep appreciation to NCDMB and Seplat for the landmark initiative, describing it as a major boost to the university’s research profile and national relevance.
He assured stakeholders of the university’s readiness to meet all stipulated requirements, highlighting DELSU’s strong academic base and research capabilities, particularly in science and engineering disciplines.
“As a leading state-owned university, we have the intellectual capacity and institutional framework to support this Centre and ensure its success,” he stated.
Reinforcing the commitment to quality, NCDMB’s General Manager, Quality Assurance, Mr Chris Osuji, affirmed that strict quality control mechanisms would be applied throughout the project lifecycle to guarantee global best practices.
In his closing remarks, the Board’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Silas Ajimijaye, commended Seplat for its funding support and urged the university to leverage the project as a legacy initiative that would elevate its global standing.
Similarly, DELSU’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Professor Douglason Omotor, pledged the institution’s full cooperation, assuring that both academic and administrative expertise would be deployed to ensure seamless collaboration.
Industry observers note that the Centre of Excellence, once operational, could play a pivotal role in accelerating Nigeria’s transition to a gas-driven economy, enhancing local content participation, and positioning the country as a regional hub for energy research and innovation.
Seplat Energy and NCDMB finalise plans to launch a Gas Centre of Excellence at Delta State University, aiming to boost Nigeria’s energy research, local content, and innovation capacity.
Seplat and NCDMB advance plans for a Gas Centre of Excellence at DELSU, targeting innovation, research development, and strengthened local content in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.