Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Rivers State University (RSU), has commenced the construction of a $6.2 million Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at the university.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the RSU main campus, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, marked a major step towards strengthening advanced engineering research, innovation and industry-oriented training in the country.
The project is being implemented under NLNG’s Human Capacity Development Plan and forms part of the NCDMB’s Human Capital Development Institutional Strengthening Programme.
The centre, which is expected to provide specialised facilities for research, training and technological development, is designed to improve the capacity of RSU to develop practical solutions to challenges confronting Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
It will be built on approximately 9,336 square metres of land and will feature a three-storey facility housing 18 specialised laboratories. Among them are laboratories for electronics and signal processing, robotics and embedded systems, software engineering, digital forensics and cybersecurity.
The facility will also contain offices, storage facilities and technical administration spaces, while sustainability features including solar energy provisions and energy-efficient lighting are expected to reduce operational costs.
As part of the initiative, a $1.2 million Professorial Chair will be established to support advanced research, academic leadership and stronger collaboration between the university and industry.
Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Adeleye Falade, represented by the company’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, described the centre as more than a physical structure.
According to her, the facility would provide students, lecturers and researchers with the tools required for practical learning, applied research and innovation in computer, electrical and electronics engineering.
Horsfall said the project would deepen the relationship between academia and industry by ensuring that research conducted at RSU responds to operational and societal challenges in Nigeria.
She noted that the initiative was also aimed at strengthening institutional capacity through modern infrastructure, research facilities, technical equipment and industry-aligned training.
“People remain our greatest investment,” Horsfall said, stressing that education delivers one of the highest returns by building confidence, competence and capacity for national development.
She further disclosed that NLNG’s Research and Development Implementation Consultancy would be domiciled at the centre when completed.
The consultancy, she explained, would help establish a robust research and development framework in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, while facilitating commercially viable and industry-relevant research in collaboration with selected tertiary institutions.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, described the groundbreaking as an important milestone in the Board’s human capital development agenda.
Bamidele said NCDMB was fully aligned with NLNG in implementing the project and would work with other stakeholders to ensure its successful completion.
He said the project was part of the Board’s Institutional Strengthening Programme, designed to establish sustainable partnerships with higher institutions through investments in infrastructure that improve teaching, research, innovation and practical skills.
He challenged the proposed centre to become a hub of discovery, creativity and technological advancement where students would be encouraged to innovate, researchers would develop solutions to real-world problems and industries would find dependable partners for research and development.
The Vice-Chancellor of RSU, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the project as a historic milestone for the university, saying it aligned with the institution’s 2026–2030 Strategic Development Plan.
According to him, the plan places emphasis on strengthening academic programmes, research collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Zeb-Obipi disclosed that the project originated from an appeal for corporate support made by Engr. Dr Hachimenum Nyebuchi Amadi, former Acting Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, with the support of the DE ’95 graduates.
He said he subsequently appointed Amadi as the pioneer Acting Director of RICCEE.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to NLNG and NCDMB for the $6.2 million investment, the $1.2 million Professorial Chair and overseas training opportunities already provided for key personnel who would manage the centre.
He said the project represented more than the construction of a new building, describing it as the foundation for research excellence, technological solutions and the development of a new generation of engineers and innovators.
Also speaking, the Vice-Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Hon. Ibinyefagha R. Alabere, commended NLNG, NCDMB and RSU for investing in education and technology.
She said the project would create opportunities for young people, stimulate innovation and contribute to sustainable development and economic growth in Bonny Kingdom, Rivers State and Nigeria.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics Directorate of NCDMB, Mr Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye; Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers State Tourism and Development Agency, Mr Yibo Koko; former Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, Dr Ama Ikuru; and Dr Collins Iyoloma, who represented the alumni.
The speakers described the NLNG-NCDMB-RSU partnership as a model of collaboration among government, industry and academia.
The ceremony culminated in the handover of the project drawings and equipment to the Vice-Chancellor and contractors, followed by the symbolic laying of the foundation by Prof. Zeb-Obipi; Alabere; Engr. Bamidele and Dr Horsfall.
When completed, the RICCEE is expected to position Rivers State University as a major centre for engineering research, innovation and industry collaboration, while contributing to Nigeria’s drive for indigenous technological capacity and human capital development.
