UNILORIN, NNPCL partner on engineering, technology research centre

UNILORIN, NNPCL partner on engineering, technology research centre

By Dele Moses, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has come up with a plan to establish a centre that will focus on practical engineering and technology-driven research on its campus.

The idea of the centre was arrived at, according to a statement by the university, when the management of the school met with the management of the NNPCL in Abuja last week.

The statement signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs of the university, Kunle Akogun, disclosed that the NNPCL has also decided to endow a professorial chair at the school.

It said the two institutions have set up a joint strategic committee that would promote cooperation between them.

The statement disclosed that while the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, led the UNILORIN team to the meeting, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, led the NNPC side.

It said discussions between the two parties at the meeting centred on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence at the university, the first in West Africa, that would be dedicated to practical engineering and technology-driven research; and the endowment of an NNPC professorial chair at the institution to promote industry-leading expertise.

“The joint committee, which would refine the details of the partnership, is expected to report back within four weeks”, the statement said.

Other members of the University of Ilorin delegation at the meeting, as indicated by the statement, included the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Mukhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Joshua Olaoye, among others.