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October 25, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has signalled plans to support new research and development projects as part of its Technology Innovation and Incubation Strategy and the enduring commitment to catalyse innovation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.
The new R&D projects will add to the 14 applied research projects NCDMB currently sponsors at various stages of technological readiness, one shining example – the Amal Technology, which manufactures gas leak detection devices and printed circuit boards in Abuja.
Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, disclosed this in his keynote address delivered at the 2024 edition of the Triple Helix Nigeria SciBiz Conference in Abuja.
The event with the theme, “Integrating Research, Innovation, and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to Research Commercialisation”, was attended by industry representatives, researchers from knowledge institutions and policymakers,
Group picture of some participants at the Triple Helix SciBiz conference held in Abuja during the week.Ogbe described research and innovation as the lifeblood of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry, adding that NCDMB has consistently applied local content development to enhance research and commercialisation of innovative solutions for the country’s oil and gas sector. This way, it hopes “to accelerate the circle of innovation and wealth creation by fostering partnerships between universities, research institutions, and industry players.”
Represented by Mr Silas Ajimajaye, the General Manager, Research and Statistics, Ogbe charged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of innovation and work together to build a future where research and development are at the forefront of the national agenda.
According to him, “Creating an ecosystem where research, innovation and policy can interact has never been more critical as we steer through the complexities of the 21st Century”.
Noting that “the Triple Helix Model of academia, industry, and government collaboration is an appropriate international business framework that adds to our strength of innovation and ensures that all efforts go into fuelling the grand old aim – National Development”, Ogbe further disclosed that “the $50 million Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund was created by the Board in 2020 from the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), and was designed to provide much-needed research funds in the oil and gas R&D space.”
Prof Eucharia Nwaichi, Chairman Centra Planning Committee, Triple Helix SciBiz conference, Dr Daniel Thomas, CEO Doret Group/ Keynote speaker, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, President Triple Helix Nigeria & Director, Monitoring & Evaluation, NCDMB, Mr Silas Ajimijaye, GM Planning, Research & Statistics, NCDMB at the opening ceremony of the Triple Helix SciBiz conference held in Abuja on Wednesday.The President of Triple Helix Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, in his presentation, said the THN, whose membership has grown from an initial 12 founding members to 240, realises the fact that research and innovation have fuelled human and societal development and that the body seeks to catalyse enterprises so oriented.
According to him, THN is committed to fostering value creation in the Nigerian economy in line with the local content philosophy of looking inward, promoting the development of technology skillsets required to solve African problems by Africans, promoting a strong advocacy platform for building research capabilities in knowledge institutions, and foster structured partnerships between industry and research community, to attract research-based funding in the direction of Africa-based researchers.
On the organisation’s vision, Halilu, who is Director, Monitoring and Evaluation at the NCDMB, revealed that “Triple Helix Nigeria seeks to inspire at least 10 knowledge institutions to accelerate innovation and have at least 10% equity in 10 listed companies in the next 10 years.”
Halilu, emphasising that the role of universities in this era was no longer confined to the education of minds or the advancement of theoretical knowledge, said they must play a central role in the commercialisation of research, turning knowledge into tangible products that drive economic growth.
“The transition from education through research to commercialisation heralded an evolving frontier where academia, industry, and government collaborate under the Triple Helix model to ensure research transcends the boundaries of laboratories and classrooms, to solving real-world problems and fostering economic prosperity”, said Halilu.
Earlier in a welcome address, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Conference, Professor Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi, said her members were “so joyous to witness 156 authors submitting 47 high-quality papers on various subjects that directly contribute to the theme of this Conference – “Integrating Research, Innovation, and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to Research Commercialisation.”
She expressed confidence that “together, we can build a robust ecosystem where research meets industry, innovation drives policy, and Nigeria rises as a global leader in science, technology, and innovation.”
The 2024 Triple Helix Nigeria SciBiz Conference 2024, held from October 23 to 25.
