All is now set for the commissioning of the $2 million Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG)-funded Engineering Research Centre at the University of Ilorin. The project, one of the six built for select universities across the six geo-political zones in the country by the company, will likely be commissioned in July this year.

NLNG's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Babs Omotowa, dropped this hint last Friday (May 20, 2016) during a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), and members of his management team. The meeting was convered to appraise the project's state of readiness. Mr. Omotowa, who was represented by the company's General Manager, External Relations, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, explained that the project at the University of Ilorin would be the fourth to be commissioned by the NLNG, having earlier commissioned those at the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Port Harcourt.

Dr. Eresia-Eke, who had earlier visited the project site with his colleagues from the NLNG, said that the company was "particularly impressed with the quality of the building". He said, "I appreciate your high level of commitment and quality of the work done. The building stands out and that makes us proud"" The NLNG chief explained that the selection of the University of Ilorin for the project was borne out of its antecedents as a top-ranking tertiary institution by the Nigeria University Commission (NUC) and other global ranking agencies' standard. He noted that this is a testament to the way the University is being run.

"The process of selecting the University of Ilorin among the six universities representing each geo-political zone of the country was objective and without any controversy", he added. Dr. Eresia-Eke said that the University of Ilorin is always on the lips of the management team of the NLNG for several good reasons, assuring that the interaction between the two organisations would continue to blossom. He stated further that each time the NLNG team visits the institution, they always have the feeling that they are in a true university, pointing out, "Your students are well-cultured; you must be really doing something that is different, that is unique and no wonder you are better by far".

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, thanked the NLNG Managing Director for his objective comment, stressing that the University of Ilorin has come a long way when it comes to academic excellence. Prof. Ambali added that the University is happy to have been able to translate the generosity of the NLNG to a tangible project that would aid Engineering education in the University. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the project is for the North Central zone of the country in particular and the entire country in general, stressing, "What you have given to us, you have given to Nigeria".

Prof. Ambali further explained that the University of Ilorin is the most subscribed University in Nigeria, with the admission quota shared among the 36 states, stressing that any investment in the institution is an investment in the Nigerian youth. According to the Vice-Chancellor, the NLNG company is investing in itself by investing in the Nigerian universities, since the graduates would, in turn, become part of the workforce of the Company.

Prof. Ambali said that the University of Ilorin is opened to more partnership, particularly in the area of Research and Development, assuring the Company that researchers in the institution are ready to partner with them. Prof. Ambali disclosed that the creation of the Laboratory to Product Centre (LABTOP) by the University is to encourage researchers to do applied research that would have impact on the society, revealing that the University now has the patent of a product that is effective in the cleaning of oil spillage.

With the Vice-Chancellor at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (RTI), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adedayo Abdulkareem; the Deputy Registrar (Academic Support Services), Mrs. R. A. Okojie, who represented the Registrar; the Deputy Bursar, the University Librarian, Dr. Joseph Omoniyi; Mr. O. Ogunbiyi, who represented the Bursar; the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Y. A. Jimoh; the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. O. A. Omotesho; and the Director, LABTOP, Prof. S. A. Abdulkareem.

Others included, the Director, Physical Planning Unit, Engr. A. Adesiyun; the Director of Works, Engr. M. Sanni; the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun; the Principal Assistant Registrars in the Vice-Chancellor's Office, Mr. A. Sayuti; Mr. K. K. Babamale; Miss Funke Hudson; and the Protocol Officer to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. S. O. Agboola.