By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, in partnership with Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the University of Lagos, has commissioned and donated a newly built Geosciences Centre of Excellence to UNILAG in a move aimed at strengthening geosciences education and research in Nigeria.
The facility was inaugurated on Friday by senior representatives of the partners, including officials from NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, SNEPCo, NCDMB, the Lagos State Ministry of Tertiary Education, and the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
The Centre is equipped with modern learning and research infrastructure, including a 250-seat auditorium, specialised geoscience laboratories, a seismic interpretation room, a digital museum, and a modern library, alongside collaborative spaces for students and researchers. It is also powered by a combination of a 600 kVA transformer and a 40 kVA solar facility, with additional field support equipment.
According to stakeholders, the facility is designed to bridge gaps between academia, industry, and government by providing hands-on training in energy and geosciences, reducing reliance on foreign institutions, and building local capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
NNPC Limited said the project reflects its commitment to capacity development, industry collaboration, and long-term investment in Nigeria’s energy future.
