The Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Rivers State University (RSU) have commenced the construction of a $6.2 million Research and Innovation Centre for Computer and Electrical Engineering (RICCEE).
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the university’s campus in Port Harcourt.
The project, funded under NLNG’s Human Capacity Development Plan and NCDMB’s Institutional Strengthening Programme, is designed to boost advanced research, specialised training, technology development and industry-focused innovation.
The centre will occupy about 9,336 square metres and feature a three-storey facility with 18 specialised laboratories covering areas including robotics, embedded systems, electronics, signal processing, software engineering, digital forensics and cybersecurity.
A $1.2 million Professorial Chair will also be established to support advanced research, academic leadership and industry collaboration.
Speaking at the ceremony, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr Sophia Horsfall, said the centre would bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry needs by equipping students and researchers with practical skills and modern research facilities.
Representing the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele said the project would strengthen collaboration between academia and industry and position the centre as a hub for innovation and solutions to real-world challenges.
RSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the project as a historic milestone that aligns with the university’s 2026–2030 Strategic Development Plan.
He expressed appreciation to NLNG and NCDMB, saying the investment would strengthen research capacity, foster innovation and produce engineers capable of contributing to Nigeria’s technological development.
The ceremony featured the handover of project drawings and equipment, as well as the symbolic laying of the foundation stone by representatives of NLNG, NCDMB, RSU and Bonny Local Government Area.
