Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited has partnered with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to deliver a Geosciences Centre of Excellence at the University of Lagos—a world-class hub for learning and research in a key sector of the economy.
The newly commissioned centre is a five-storey building fitted with modern learning and research facilities.
These include laboratories for hydrogeology, mineralogy, and environmental geology, as well as a seismic laboratory, a seismic interpretation room, a library, and a digital museum, according to a statement by Shell.
The facility is designed to support both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, while also helping to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign institutions for testing, training, and research in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the commissioning, SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, described the project as a long-term investment in Nigeria’s human capital. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner for Tertiary Education Tola Sule, noted that the centre would provide a practical learning environment where students can gain hands-on experience.
Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Olanrewaju Igandan, said the project reflects what can be achieved when industry players, regulators, and academic institutions collaborate with a shared vision for national development.
Also speaking, NCDMB Executive Secretary Felix Ogbe—represented by Director of Capacity Building Abayomi Bamidele—emphasised that the true value of the centre would be measured by its impact, including the number of skilled graduates produced, the quality of research generated, and its ability to solve industry challenges.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Folasade Ogunsola, said the centre would offer advanced research and analytical services that meet global standards. She added that it would also provide degree programmes, specialised short courses, professional certifications, and executive training tailored to the needs of industry, government agencies, and international partners.
Originally conceived in 2010, the project was executed by indigenous firm 225MM Construct Limited. During construction, students from UNILAG, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, and Yaba College of Technology participated as interns, gaining valuable technical experience.
The statement further noted that the centre represents another milestone in SNEPCo’s ongoing support for education in Nigeria, which includes scholarship awards, the donation of science laboratories to secondary schools, and the establishment of e-learning centres in universities across Delta, Enugu, Edo, and Bayelsa states.
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