The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas limited (NLNG) has constructed multi-million Naira engineering laboratories at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
At the commissioning of the multi-user laboratories, the Managing Director (MD) of NLNG, Mr Babs Omotowa, said the project, which cost 340 million Naira, was part of the company’s contribution to complement the various efforts of the government in stimulating the growth of research and science education in Nigeria.
Mr Omotowa also explained that the laboratory, which was equipped with the state of the art facility, would provide the staff and students of the university easy access to world class facilities that would, among other benefits, enhance their academic performance and improve their skills.
The building has six different laboratories – Materials Characterisation Laboratory, Soil Testing Laboratory, Materials Testing Laboratory, Mechatronics Laboratory, ICT Laboratory and Environmental Laboratory.
The project, which is part of NLNG’s University Support Programme, is driven by the company’s desire to develop engineering education in Nigeria.
The MD also disclosed that the company would spend 340 million Naira on the construction of modern engineering laboratories, equipped with cutting-edge technology, in five other universities.
University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, University of Port-Harcourt, University of Maiduguri and University of Nigeria, Nsukka are the benefiting universities.
He explained that the universities were selected based on rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and their long standing contributions to the development of local capacity in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Ibrahim Garba, told the gathering that the commissioning of the multi-user laboratories was the first of its kind, since the inception of the institution.
He noted that the facility would avail students and lecturers of the institution the opportunity to conduct their research in the field of engineering technology.
He also called on other corporate organisations to emulate NLNG.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwuka, while commending the management of NLNG for the laudable initiative, that the administration of President Buhari was committed to giving the education sector face-lift.
