NCDMB and Shell Joint Venture Donate State-of-the-Art Studio and ICT Hub to FUTO

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), in collaboration with their joint venture (JV) partners, have officially unveiled world-class engineering design studios and an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). This significant contribution aims to advance the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (HCD) programme, focusing on enhancing institutional capacity and equipping universities across the nation.

The newly inaugurated facilities comprise two cutting-edge Engineering Design Studios and a fully furnished 100-seater Main ICT Lecture Hall, equipped with computers and smartboards. These studios are designed to create a "visually stimulating collaborative workspace," promoting group work, brainstorming sessions, and ideation meetings among students.

Additionally, the donation includes a 200KVA diesel generator, diesel storage tank, generator house, borehole, overhead water tank, perimeter mesh wire fence, car park, shallow drains, and landscaping, ensuring a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade for FUTO.

During the unveiling ceremony, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe emphasized the initiative's alignment with the Federal Government’s objective of developing skilled technical manpower to support the oil and gas industry and its associated sectors. He highlighted the urgency of modernizing academic infrastructure to impart specialized skills.

Dr. Ama Ikuru, Director of Capacity Building at NCDMB, represented Ogbe and reiterated the Board's commitment to enhancing institutional capacity, preparing students for a competitive global landscape dominated by advancements in Artificial Intelligence, data science, the Internet of Things, and robotics.

Ogbe also noted the NCDMB’s previous interventions to boost contemporary skills acquisition in various academic institutions, underscoring the significance of education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

In his remarks, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director and Country Chair of SPDC, hailed the Engineering Design Studio and ICT Hub as crucial projects for human capital development, a testament to the successful collaboration between SPDC, JV partners—including NNPCL, TotalEnergies, and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC)—and NCDMB.

Okunbor, represented by Igo Weli, General Manager of External Relations at SPDC, shared that FUTO was chosen for this institutional strengthening initiative in line with the catchment areas of SPDC’s Assa North Ohaji South Gas Development Project. He affirmed that this development aligns with the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development Plan and adheres to the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

The partnership between NCDMB and Shell marks a significant step forward in enhancing the technical capabilities of students at FUTO, equipping them with essential skills for the evolving oil and gas industry.