* Announces panelists for 2nd RDFC
By Eddy Ochigbo and Adeniyi Onifade
Ahead of the 2nd edition of its Research and Development Fair and Conference (RDFC) scheduled for September 9, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has disclosed that it is expecting about a thousand participants.
Consequently, the NCDMB has announced the panelists for the R&D Fair and Conference at its corporate headquarters in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State.
Speaking in Lagos State, the NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engineer Simbi Wabote, said the Board was inviting stakeholders who would participate physically and virtually.
“We are expecting about a thousand participants. Two hundred will attend physically and eight hundred virtually. The last edition was held in 2017 in Lagos. It is held every two years; and of course, COVID-19 stopped us from holding that of 2019. The objective is to bring together the academia and the industry to talk about how to improve research and development in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
“To be honest with you, no country develops without focusing on research and development. We believe that NCDMB must become a catalyst that will drive thinking and focus in that direction.
“The process of obtaining funding for research is simple. It is not a loan but a grant. To be able to access the grant, there are certain ground rules that you must go through. We have technology committee that would review your proposal. We have a research and development council which I chair in conjunction with other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, especially those genuinely involved in research and development. So, if you go through the screening of those two layers, you are entitled to a fund. The idea behind it all, is to improve research and development in local content, especially research to commercialisation, and we want to be with you from your research stage to commercialisation,” Wabote stated.
He said applicants must go through the journey, from research to commercialisation.
“We are not an organisation set up to share money to people. We must follow through end-to-end strategically, to achieve the desired goal. The idea behind this is to invest in a particular product line, and put such product into the market. The fund for research and development currently stands at $50 million,” he explained, adding that the amount is not limited to an applicant but limited the problem you want to solve.
Valuechain recalls that NCDMB’s establishment in 2010 was with the sole mandate to build capacity of the local supply chain for effective and efficient service delivery in the oil and gas industry, as well as value addition in Nigeria, through enforcement of utilisation of Nigerian-made goods, services, and manpower in oil and gas activities.
According to Wabote, NCDMB also has the task to facilitate home-grown technology and innovation through the nurturing of local research and development (R&D) capabilities.
“In the light of the pivotal role of Research and Innovation in the development of indigenous technology, NCDMB has placed high premium on R&D oversight as a critical enabler in achieving the Board’s aspiration of 70 per cent local content by 2027.
“Section 67 of the NOGICD Act 2010, mandates the Board to conduct workshops, conferences, seminars, symposia and other public fora to enhance the implementation of the provisions of the NOGICD Act 2010.
“We are, therefore, hosting the second edition of the NCDMB R&D Fair on September 9, 2021 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to bring together industry stakeholders, academia and researchers towards achieving a common agenda on R&D as a pillar for sustainable local content,” he said.
Wabote also said that the maiden edition of the R&D Fair was organised in 2017 where research breakthroughs were exhibited, and linkages were facilitated between researchers and end-users in the oil and gas industry.
He stated that since the successful hosting of the maiden edition, significant progress has been made in elevating the industry collaboration on R&D, which includes: stablishment of Nigerian Content Research and Development Council with a mandate to advise the Board on matters relating to research and development in the oil and gas industry; development of R&D 10-year Strategic Road Map, which will be launched during the 2021 R&D Fair.
It also includes, according to him, development of frameworks for supporting research breakthroughs to products for industry application, of which 20 Researchers are benefiting from the Board’s intervention.
The NCDMB top shot, who revealed the creation of $50 million Research and Development Fund, also hinted on the inauguration of Technical Advisory Board on Nigerian content Research and Development Fund.
The signing of MoU to establish R&D Centers of Excellence in five (5) universities across the country, viz: Federal Universities of Technology in Minna, Akure and Owerri, Niger Delta University Amasoma and Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola, is also forthcoming.
“The Board has concluded plans to host the 2nd edition of the NCDMB Research and Development Fair and Conference with the theme: Creating Sustainable Collaboration in Research and ‘Development for the Energy Sector’, through hybrid participation in compliance with COVID-19 protocols and it promises to feature presentation of research breakthroughs, panel discussion on R&D pillars of success and a special feature on how Nigeria can adopt a sustainable acceleration programme for launching innovative ideas into the market,” Wabote elaborated further.
Valuechain reports that the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has graciously confirmed his attendance, and will be launching the NCDMB 10-year R&D roadmap, as well as commission the Technology Innovation and Incubation Center established by the Board to facilitate innovation and incubation of ideas for market adoption.
Sylva will also launch the $50 million R&D Fund Utilisation Protocol.
“I encourage interested members of the public and Nigerians in the Diaspora to log on to the link – http://ncdmb.gov.ng/rdfair2021/ to register and attend the important conference. I look forward to seeing you all,” Wabote added.
Meanwhile, the NCDMB has announced the panelists for the 2nd Edition of the RDFC.
The cerebral panelists lined up for the Technical Session to discuss ‘Legal Framework, Governance and Enforcement as R&D Success Pillars’, include vice chancellors of technical universities, director generals, as well as representatives drawn from Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).
The panelists are: Prof. Abdullahi Bola, Vice Chancellor, of Federal University of Technology, Minna; Dan Azumi Mohammed Ibrahim, Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP); Prof. Nnnena Oti, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Akintunde Adelana, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, NCDMB; Ranti Omole, member – PETAN.