NCDMB inaugurates Nigerian Content RDF-TAB, to provide technical support for utilisation of $50 million R&D fund
Newly inaugurated Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund, Technical Advisory Board (NCRDF-TAB)
Oredola Adeola
The Nigerian Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) has established the Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund, Technical Advisory Board (NCRDF-TAB), charged with the mandate to provide technical support to the Board in the utilization of the $50 Million Research and Development (R&D) Fund.
The Board also announced Alh. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Planning, Research & Statistics NCDMB and Dr (Mrs) Sarah Nwinee, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), as Chairman of the Board and Member/Alternate Chairman respectively.
Engr. Simbi Wabote, NCDMB, Executive Secretary, made this known at the inauguration ceremony at the Board’s Abuja Liaison office, on Tuesday.
According to Engr. Wabote, the Advisory Board’s role in advancing value-based, market-driven research in the oil and gas industry and its linked sectors.
He said, “The mandate of the Board is to provide technical support to NCDMB’s management in the utilization of the $50 Million R&D Fund.
“Together, this team is poised to drive research and development in the Nigerian content landscape to new heights.
Alh. Halilu, the NCRDF-TAB Chairman, in his acceptance speech, commended Engr. Wabote for considering TAB Members worthy of nomination and inauguration.
According to him, “We have taken note of ES charges for us to respond to emerging trends in the industry and Nigeria in the selection of qualified research proposals.
He said, “These trends include – artificial intelligence displacing human interface with production platforms, need to promote reverse Engineering to mitigate capital flight, commitment to ending the trend of exporting Nigerian jobs and general aim of conserving foreign exchange.
Dr. Halilu emphasised that the other trends to note are sustainable operations to preserve the environment and reduce carbon emissions.
The Chairman also assured that the key performance indicators guiding the operations of TAB – number of Research proposals approved, number of new start-up companies created from activities of Technology Innovation and incubation center will be achieved.
He therefore called on TAB members to collectively work together as a team to achieve the objectives of setting up the organ as part of the governance structure in the utilization of $50 million Nigerian content Reserach and development fund.
EnergyDay gathered that other members of the newly inaugurated Nigerian Content Research and Development Fund, Technical Advisory Board (NCRDF-TAB) are Mr. Ijuwe Albert, Member representing the Oil Producers Trader Section (OPTS), Mr. Nelson Wilbert, Member, representing Petroleum Contractors Trade Section and Dr. Obinna Ofili, Member, who doubles as General Manager, NCDMB, Nigerian Content Development Fund & Treasury Management.
Others Board members are Prof. Ogbonna Joel, Indigenous Scientist, Prof. Krishnan Balasubramaniam, Foreign Scientist from Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) India, Mr. Abubakar Mudi, representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC)Limited, Mr. E.B. Mac-Jaja, representing the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Ms. Patricia Simon-Hart, representing Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), and Mr. Modestus Onwubuche, representing the Indigenous Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), while the NCDMB R&D will serve as the Secretariat.
EnergyDay’s check showed the US$50 million Nigerian Content Research & Development Fund (NCR&DF) as a Research and Development Roadmap to institutionalize a robust R&D ecosystem that will lead to continuous development of technology, materials, and processes for industry application from indigenous research efforts.
The fund is a major success pillar, dedicated to closing the systemic weakness of inadequate funding architecture for R&D activities in the Oil and Gas industry.
