As part of the its plan to establish Centres of Excellence (CoE) in five Nigerian Universities, officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has begun to meet with the leadership of selected universities.

Last Thursday, the General Manager, Research, Strategy and Development (RSD), NCDMB, Mr.Abdulmalik Halilu met with the Vice Chancellor of the Modibo Adama University of Technology Yola, Adamawa State, Prof. Abdullahi Bala.

The Centres of Excellence (CoE) will be established in five universities based on the Board’s research thematic cluster- engineering, technology development, local material substitution, HSE and geological and geophysical studies.

Modibo Adama University of Technology Yola is one of the five schools identified for the CoE and is hosting the Board’s Center of Excellence on Health, Safety and Environment thematic studies.

The establishment of Center of Excellence is part of the Board’s commitment to collaborate closely with some Universities across the country with aim of encouraging more participation of lecturers and student in R&D activities.

As part of the execution plan for setting up the CoE, the Board awarded contracts to five consultants to conduct feasibilities studies on the equipment, manning and other levels of intervention needs of the centres of excellence.

The Board has commenced the kick-off meetings with the consultants and as well as introducing the contractors to the various school authorities in a bid to ensure speedy delivery of the of the services.

Highlight of the kickoff meeting included the presentation on overview of NCDMB mandate on R&D, R&D framework, and R&D 10-year roadmap and presentation of the scope of work to the consultant and the school authority.

The meeting also discussed the expectation from the University- provision of dedicated building to host the centre, draft MOU, introduction of the consultant to the university authority and inspection of the building to host the centre.