Adamu Ahmed, the vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, says the institution’s Petroleum Technology Development Fund-supported research on zeolite catalysts could save Nigeria more than 300 million dollars annually in foreign exchange.

According to a statement on Tuesday, Mr Ahmed stated this when he led the university management to the executive secretary of PTDF, Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, for a courtesy visit.

Mr Ahmed said that the research produced a patented indigenous zeolite catalyst technology with strong commercial potential. He added that research was capable of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported catalysts while promoting local manufacturing and technological self-reliance across the petroleum industry.

The VC described the innovation as a practical demonstration of the benefits of sustained investment in research.

Mr Ahmed urged the PTDF to facilitate the commercialisation of the research through strategic partnerships, pilot projects and stronger engagement with relevant industry stakeholders.

According to Mr Ahmed, PTDF has remained one of ABU’s most valued strategic partners by supporting research initiatives that strengthen the university’s capacity to generate solutions addressing critical national development challenges across multiple sectors.

He reaffirmed ABU’s commitment to collaborating with PTDF to develop a practical roadmap to transform the innovation into a nationally recognised success story through the university’s research expertise, laboratories, and technical support.

Mr Ahmed also expressed the university’s readiness to expand collaboration with PTDF in postgraduate education, advanced research, energy transition, local content development, digital innovation and capacity building to strengthen Nigeria’s petroleum and energy sectors.

Responding, Mr Aliyu described Ahmed as a unique leader whose simplicity, humility and accommodating disposition had distinguished him, while expressing appreciation for the university management’s visit and continued support for PTDF’s development initiatives.

Mr Aliyu said PTDF would strengthen collaboration with ABU following the recent upgrade of the PTDF College of Petroleum and Energy Studies into General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.

He explained that students of ABU would have access to the new university’s 29 specialised laboratories, while the institution would also draw academic manpower from ABU to support its teaching, research and institutional development.

The PTDF executive secretary also announced plans to domesticate the fund’s training programmes to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap in the oil and gas industry and reduce dependence on expatriate professionals across critical technical disciplines.

Mr Aliyu observed that the Dangote Group currently employs more than 30,000 expatriates due to existing skills shortages, describing ABU as a centre of academic excellence and seeking the university’s support in addressing the challenge.

(NAN)