The Energy Commission of Nigeria says it is ready to support the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, in the research of green energy raw materials as viable alternative to Fossil Fuels.

The Director General of the Commission, Professor Eli Jidere Bala made this known when the Management team of the University, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu paid him a courtesy visit.

He said being a very important factor in the development of a nation, such energy sources are desirable for a fast growing institution like IBB University.

Professor Bala requested the University Management to expand the earlier signed Memorandum of Understanding to cover the aspects of green energy and green transition minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, manganese, lead and zinc.

The Director General stressed that the Commission would appreciate a partnership with the University, hence the need for a new draft of the agreement.

He said partnership which is now a vogue was very necessary with the University in order for the Commission to fully support, even though the Institution is a State owned.

Professor Bala appreciated the Vice Chancellor and his team for the visit and hoped it would be the beginning of a good relationship.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Abu Kasim Adamu said the request for green energy research support was necessary for the University in view of the numerous researches it has been undertaking.

He recalled the first national workshop organized by the Commission in the 2017 on Nigeria’s frontier basins as basis for data generation where researchers of the University participated.

Prof Adamu congratulated the Energy Commission for the roles it played leading up to discovery of oil and gas in Kolmani River and in Obi, Nasarawa State.

The Vice Chancellor said he believes Bida and Sokoto Basins would be next for drilling.

The Vice Chancellor also reminded the Director General of an earlier agreement entered between the Commission and the University in 2012 on data generation in the Bida and Sokoto Basins, adding that both the University and Commission have a lot to do in the pre-drill and post- drill assessment of the basins to ‘open them up for more investment by the private sector and to book more reserves for Nigeria’.

Professor Adamu further informed the Director General the the University had secured Professorial Chair in Basinal Studies as endowed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited of which Professor Nuhu George Obaje was so appointed.

On the University Management team was the Basinal Chair Professor, Professor Nuhu George Obaje, the Registrar, Alhaji Idris Saleh Kusherki, Bursar, Muhammad Alfa Daniyan, Director Academic Planning and Dr. Mohammed Aliyu Bello.

Others are Deputy Registrars, Information and Council and Management Affairs, Alhaji Baba Akote and Babangida Bala Jatau.