NCDMB moves to commercialise academic research in oil sector

With the support of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Triple Helix Nigeria, yesterday garnered different universities, science and technology-based organisations to advocate the commercialisation of research.

The board’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who was represented by the General Manager Research and Development, Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, said research and innovation represent the lifeblood of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as recognised by the NCDMB.

The event was the Triple Helix Nigeria Conference in Abuja with the theme ‘Integrating Research, Innovation, and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to Research Commercialisation’.

Ogbe said part of the means of exercising the board’s mandate is by using local content to strengthen research and commercialisation of innovative solutions for Nigeria’s oil industry.

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“One avenue through which we exercise this mandate is by applying local content development to enhance research and commercialisation of innovative solutions for Nigeria’s oil industry.

“ We intend to accelerate this virtuous circle of innovation and wealth generation by fostering partnerships between universities, research institutions, and industry players,” he said.

On his part, President of Triple Helix Nigeria, Abdulmalik Halilu, said the NCDMB had identified research and development as a key success pillar for sustainable local content development.

This, he said, necessitated the rolling out of a 10-year roadmap in 2017 to indicate where the local content should reflect in 2027.

Halilu, who is also the NCDMB Director Monitoring and Evaluation, said oil and gas technology requirements are products from countries that have invested hugely in research.

He cited the US, Germany as country’s research has enhanced their success in the oil and gas industry.

Halilu said countries that succeed in R&D actually collaborate and show the structured collaboration between the industry, who are the users of risk products of research, who are the users of technology.