From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has signed a N2 billion Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with six Nigerian universities representing each of the six geo-political zones in the country, to develop their engineering education capacity.
The beneficiaries are the University of Ilorin, representing the North-Central; the University of Ibadan, representing the South-West; the University of Port Harcourt, representing the South-South; the University of Maiduguri, representing the North-East; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, representing the North-West and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, representing the South-East.
The development was contained in a statement issued by University of Ilorin authority yesterday.
According to the report, the MoA was signed in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, said that the agreement, which was sequel to the plan unfolded by the company in March this year, was for the implementation of phase one of the company’s University Support Programme.
Omotowa disclosed that the NLNG would spend $2 million (about N340 million) on the construction of modern engineering laboratories with cutting-edge equipment in each of the six universities.
The NLNG boss explained that the six universities were selected based on rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC), international bodies, as well as their individual long-standing contributions to the development of local capacity in Nigeria.
Omotowa said that the selection of the universities was based on their outstanding performance in engineering and technical education in each of the six geo-political zones in the country.
While responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, assured the management of NLNG that the universities would live up to expectation in the use of the laboratories and equipment.
He urged other organisations to emulate the NLNG’s gesture and support educational development in the country.
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