PTDF, others suggest tripartite collaboration to industrialise Nigeria

Executive Secretary, of Petroleum Technology Development Fund, (PTDF), Dr. Bello Gusau; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Kayode Adebowale and Chief Executive Officer, Jola Global Industry Ltd., Dr. Moses Omojola, have called for collaboration among government, academia and industry for revolution in Nigeria’s industrialisation.

The stakeholders said that the tripartite collaboration through research and development of commercialisation of raw materials and local production would engender development.

They gave the charge, yesterday, at a workshop in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Represented by Mr. Olayinka Agboola of Strategic Planning and Documentation (SP and D) Department, PTDF, Gusau said PTDF as the agent of the government for building capacity in the oil and gas industry use avenues such as human capacity building, institutional support and funding research and development.

Chairman of the occasion, Adebowale, said the knowledge sharing had been the direction of building the triple-elite model, desirable in the university, which would strengthen the link between academia and the industry.

The VC, who is a professor of Chemistry, lamented that there were so many researches lacking impact, which were just research for theoretical purposes or advancement in the career ladder.

He, therefore, called for researches that focused on solving challenges in the industry and sourcing local raw materials that would replace the expensive ones being imported.

One of the lead presenters, Omojola, identified industrialisation as the way out from the present economic challenges facing Nigeria.

He noted that the government must encourage industrialisation by addressing the energy challenge.

Also, a professor of Petroleum Engineering, UI, Sunday Isehunwa, said Nigeria could address its carbon targets if it looks inward through research, innovation and development.

Earlier, the Head of Department of Petroleum Engineering, UI, Prof. Olugbenga Falode, said there were various challenges bedevilling the Nigerian oil and gas industry based on environmental issues and rising cost of operations.