...as Omotowa hails varsity's management The University of Ilorin was agog last Friday (July 8, 2016) as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) commissioned the state-of-the-art engineering laboratory it built for the University. The $2 million Engineering Research Centre is part of the company's $12 million University Support Programme (USP) spread across six universities in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Before last Friday's inauguration of the Unilorin Engineering Research Centre, the company had commissioned the Ahmadu Bello University Multi-user Engineering Laboratory, the University of Ibadan Engineering Complex and the NLNG/University of Port Harcourt Oil and Gas Engineering Centre. The other beneficiaries of the USP scheme, which was launched in 2014 to help develop engineering education capacity in the country, are the University of Maiduguri and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In his keynote address, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, said, "The University Support Programme is one of NLNG's approaches to developing Nigerian human capital and fostering technological advancement".

Mr. Omotowa said, "The NLNG recognises "that universities, with their crop of young people and nimble minds, when aided properly, are the fertile grounds from which ideas to fast track Nigeria's progress will spring from", adding, "At Nigeria LNG, we like to proudly assert that we have successfully built a great company. But today our challenge and focus is building an even greater one to bequeath to our successors and to Nigeria. Therefore, the USP project is, in a sense, another chapter in that momentous journey and another feather in NLNG's cap as a socially responsible corporate organisation"

"I expect that the new laboratory complex will be put to excellent use. The present administration has called for home-grown solutions to the problems facing us as a nation- from agriculture, power generation and distribution, technological advancement, to healthcare and infrastructure development," the NLNG Chief Executive Officer said, Mr. Omotowa expressed confidence in the management of the University of Ilorin under the leadership of Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), saying "the university is one of the very few properly managed universities in Nigeria".

He noted that "since its establishment in 1975, the University of Ilorin has worked to earn its stripes as one of the best run and managed universities in Nigeria. From the three Engineering departments it had in 1978, it now boasts of offering undergraduate degrees in seven Engineering disciplines including Biomedical Engineering and postgraduate degrees in four of these disciplines". The Chief Executive Officer of NLNG said, "It is a fact that as at today, this institution has enjoyed 16 uninterrupted academic years. It has provided this country with seasoned Engineers and technocrats. I am myself a proud University of Ilorin alumnus as I earned my Bachelor's degree in Industrial Chemistry and a Master's in Business Administration here. The university has contributed its quota to Nigeria's development, with the excellent education provided and the character built. I urge all Unilorin students to do their utmost to imbibe the learning and the culture which the University of Ilorin liberally offers".

In his own speech, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali stressed the importance of Engineering and Technology to nation building, saying, "The failure and success of nations is also the failure and success of its Engineering and Technology. If Engineering fails, the nation will most likely fail and if Engineering succeeds the nation will also succeed". Prof. Ambali expressed appreciation to the NLNG Managing Director, who he described as "a true ambassador and a great alumnus of this great university". The Vice-Chancellor recalled that the journey to the commissioning of the Research Centre started on June 20, 2014 at Abuja when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the six selected universities.

Prof. Ambali said that "before now, our Engineering has been ranked the best in Nigeria" and expressed the hope that in due course, the University of Ilorin will outperform others in Africa. Promising that the facility would be put to proper use, the Vice-Chancellor said that members of his management team were determined to continue on the path of excellence that the University is already known for.

Prof Ambali also acknowledged the Director of the University of Ilorin Consultancy Services, Prof Olugbenga Mokuolu and the Director of Advancement, Dr Jeleel Ojuade, among other staff members who worked tirelessly to make the project a reality. The Governor of Kwara State, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was represented at the commissioning by the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Yeketi, said, "By this gesture, Nigeria LNG has proved that it is not only one of the most successful business organisations on Nigerian soil as I have come to realise, but also an agent of development in the nation".

According to Governor Ahmed, "It is impressive to note that the company, which is headquartered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and doing its business globally, should commit to such an inspiring Corporate Social Responsibility initiative on a national scale, to benefit six tertiary institutions across the geopolitical zones in the country, including our very own University of Ilorin". The Governor said, "This act distinguishes Nigeria LNG as a unifying corporate organisation in the face of the diverse interests plaguing the unity of the country, evidenced by the intense clamour for regional autonomy and resource control in the respective zones." He therefore expressed appreciation to the Board, Management and staff of Nigeria LNG for the honour done to University of Ilorin and the people of Kwara State".

In his own address, the Chairman, Board of Directors of NLNG, Dr Osobonye LongJohn, who was represented by the company's General Manager, External Relations, Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, noted that the project was "one addition to many of NLNG's landmark achievements". He said that "the Nigeria LNG has continued to distinguish itself as a recognised Nigerian success stor", pointing out that "we make a significant contribution to the country's GDP, offer scholarships to deserving Nigerians from all over the country as part of our corporate social responsibility programme, which is designed to further the company's vision of helping to build a better Nigeria".

Dr LongJohn explained that NLNG's social responsibility programme has the development of human capital as its centre piece and defining feature. It is no surprise therefore, that in addition to successfully implementing youth skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, we are here today to formally commission this modern Engineering Research Centre to our partner institution, the University of Ilorin". He added that the pursuit of strategic expansion programme via which we expect to increase LNG annual production output by 40 percent from the plant in Bonny, has not diverted NLNG's attention from other national development programmes which the company is undertaking.

"Today's event is therefore a reinforcement of Nigeria LNG's belief that science and technology, as well as research which directly impacts society and human lives, is a must have for Nigeria as we are to make the desired move from a developing country to a developed one". Present at the occasion were all Principal Officers, Deans of the various Faculties, Directors, and leaders of the various workers' unions on campus.