Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have broken ground for the NLNG Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE) at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous research, technological capacity and engineering skills.
The project, described by NLNG as its largest human capital development institutional strengthening initiative to date, is designed to expand the university’s capacity for advanced, industry-relevant research, specialised training and the development of technological solutions for Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors. The centre will also host a professorial chair and operate as a research and development hub, promoting industry-focused research and the development of solutions to critical operational challenges, particularly those relevant to NLNG, with successful outcomes potentially commercialised for wider industry application.
NLNG Managing Director and CEO Adeleye Falade, represented by General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, described the project as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and a practical demonstration of the company’s commitment to sustainable human capital development. He said RICCEE would strengthen the connection between academic knowledge and practical industry requirements, enabling researchers and professionals to collaborate on innovations with commercial and developmental relevance.
NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Director, Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, said the groundbreaking is an important milestone in the implementation of the board’s human capital development objectives. He stated that the project forms part of the board’s Human Capital Development Institutional Strengthening Programme, which seeks to build enduring partnerships with institutions of higher learning by providing infrastructure that enhances teaching, research, innovation and practical skills development.
Rivers State University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said the university’s 2026–2030 strategic development plan prioritises improving academic programmes and strengthening research collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship. He noted that RICCEE would provide a vital platform for advancing these objectives, envisaging it as a world-class hub where researchers and students can develop practical solutions to engineering and technological challenges, and where innovative ideas can be transformed into useful products, technologies and services.
The centre will be developed on approximately 9,336 square metres of land within the university campus and will accommodate specialised laboratories for Electronics and Signal Processing, Robotics and Embedded Systems, Software Engineering, and Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity, among other facilities. The laboratories are designed with in-built offices and storage areas to support research, teaching, equipment management and technical administration. The building will also incorporate sustainability features, including provision for solar energy, energy-efficient lighting and environmentally responsible systems intended to reduce operating costs and support reliable research activities.
RICCEE is one of the institutional strengthening projects being implemented under NCDMB’s Human Capital Development programme, which is aimed at improving the capacity of Nigerian educational institutions through upgraded infrastructure, modern research facilities, technical equipment and industry-aligned training.