Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, alongside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, has commissioned a modern Geosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Lagos, marking a significant investment in Nigeria’s education and energy sectors.
The newly completed facility is a five-storey building equipped with advanced laboratories and research tools for disciplines such as hydrogeology, mineralogy, environmental geology, and seismic analysis. It also features a seismic interpretation suite, a digital museum, and a fully resourced library, creating a comprehensive environment for teaching, learning, and research.
The centre is expected to enhance both undergraduate and postgraduate training while helping to reduce the oil and gas industry’s reliance on foreign institutions for specialised research, testing, and capacity development.
Speaking at the unveiling, SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams described the project as a strategic commitment to developing Nigeria’s human capital. Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Tertiary Education Tola Sule noted that the facility would encourage practical, hands-on learning among students.
NNPC’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer, Olanrewaju Igandan, highlighted the project as proof of the impact of collaboration between industry stakeholders, regulators, and academia in driving national growth.
Representing NCDMB Executive Secretary Felix Ogbe, Abayomi Bamidele emphasised that the centre’s success would ultimately be judged by the quality of graduates it produces, the research output it generates, and its contributions to solving industry challenges.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said the facility would deliver globally competitive research services and support a range of programmes, including degree courses, professional certifications, and executive training tailored to industry needs.
Initially conceived in 2010, the project was delivered by indigenous firm 225MM Construct Limited, with students from institutions such as Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, and Yaba College of Technology participating through internship programmes that provided hands-on construction experience.
The centre is the latest in a series of educational initiatives by SNEPCo and its partners, which also include scholarship programmes, science laboratory donations to secondary schools, and the establishment of e-learning centres across several Nigerian states.
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