Campus News

UNILORIN, NGSA to collaborate on staff, students’ internship

By Tajudeen Babamale

The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) and the University of Ilorin have agreed to establish a development-collaboration that will entail a short term work and learning experience for the academic staff of the University on one hand, and the technical staff of the Agency on the other hand.

            The internship programme, according to the organisations, will serve as a platform for the acquisition of professional learning experience for beneficiaries toward the realisation of the set goal of economic diversification and advancement of mining and geosciences in the country.

            The agreement was the highlight of the visit of the UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, to the NGSA Director-General Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige, in his office in Abuja last Tuesday (May 13, 2025).

            Prof. Egbewole said that internship is one of the ways by which the University of Ilorin desires to collaborate with NGSA toward the realisation of the mandates of both organisations. He explained that as expected, the University is mandated to embark on research and the dissemination of knowledge, while NGSA will explore the country to provide geosciences data on minerals, with the aim of creating wealth while diversifying and developing the economy.

            The Vice Chancellor said, “In the University, we pride ourselves with research and teaching, while NGSA is exploring to create wealth for sustainable development. We want to work with NGSA. We are happy that some of our students are on internship here at the NGSA, we want more of it.

            “We want more in terms of internships for lecturers and professors while NGSA staff will also visit the University for a programme or the other.”

            Prof. Egbewole, who visited the Agency in the company of Dr Marouf Abdul Adekunle and Mr Salaudeen Abdulrahaman, said, “I am here to formally congratulate and visit our own Prof. Olusegun Ige on his appointment as Director General of the NGSA,” adding that the University of Ilorin is proud of him while the “NGSA is extremely lucky” to have him as its helmsman.

            Until his appointment as Director-General of the NGSA, Prof. Ige was the Head of the Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences at the University of Ilorin.

            The Vice Chancellor, who described Ige as an illustrious product of the University, said that the relationship between NGSA and the University will continue to blossom.

            “We have been planning to pay him a visit and we are happy it is happening today,” Prof. Egbewole said, adding that he wished the visit had come earlier.

            Declaring goodwill and support for the Director-General, Prof. Egbewole said, “As a University, we appreciate his personality as an individual. He has our support. The University of Ilorin and NGSA will collaborate in a way that will enhance what we are doing.”

            While saying that the Agency has a crucial role to play in the realisation of the set goal of developing the minerals sector for national economic diversification, the Vice Chancellor expressed optimism that the University and the Agency will spell out terms of the partnership.    He said, “After this meeting, we look forward to an MoU between the University of Ilorin and NGSA.”

            Welcoming the UNILORIN team earlier, the Director-General of NGSA assured the Vice Chancellor of the determination of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, to transform the economy by developing the minerals sector.

            Prof. Ige said that the NGSA as an agency of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, “focuses on mineral exploration in a scientific manner,” adding that it generates the geosciences data needed for investment in the mineral sector that will “enhance national economic development.”

While disclosing that the NGSA is  over 100 years old, the Director-General pointed out that it has 27 offices across the country.

“We have six Zonal Offices across the nation and over 400 staff,” he stated.

The Director General assured that the Agency will continue to deploy relevant scientific strategies to achieve its mandates, stating that it applies different tools acquired by its technical staff while they were students at various universities.             He said the strategies include professional application of geophysics, economic geology, regional geology and other aspects of the geosciences.

He commended the Vice Chancellor for ensuring qualitative dissemination of knowledge at the University of Ilorin, adding that NGSA has over 20 staff who are products of the University.

Prof. Ige mentioned some efforts made by the current management of the Agency, saying, “Upon assumption of duty, we activated the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS), the first of its kind in Nigeria, which is used in mineral analysis,” adding that the milestone helps to prevent capital flight while adding value to minerals in Nigeria.

Prof. Ige disclosed that NGSA has also created linkages to the universities by establishing the “NGSA Best Final Year Award.” He said the Agency established the award in order to encourage scholarly pursuit of learning and for the overall development of the country. He disclosed that the maiden award was won by a student of the University of Ilorin.

Also speaking, the Director of Regional Geology, NGSA, Mr Umar Bature, who spoke on behalf of the other Directors, thanked the Vice Chancellor and his team for the visit. He described Prof. Ige as a leader who is passionate about the welfare of all staff, stating that the inclusive leadership style of the Director-General has created in staff, the consciousness of duty and feeling of importance, irrespective of status.