By Jimitota Onoyume

As efforts continue to evolve enduring solutions to challenges of underdevelopment in the oil and gas region of the Niger Delta four universities collaborating in this drive have appealed for funds from government.

A statement made available to the Vanguard listed the institutions as  Centre for Research and Development, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Rivers state, Institute for Niger-Delta Studies, Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa, Centre for Water and Sanitation, Rivers state University, Port Harcourt, Rivers state and Centre for Niger-Delta Studies, Delta state University, Abraka, Delta state.

The institutions lamented the lack of research funds and appealed for more support from government at all levels.

Chartered by their respective enabling laws, the mandates of the participating institutions include conservation of forest and marine resources, environmental pollution, flooding, erosion, conflict resolution and peace studies, and history, language and culture of the peoples of the oil rich region.

They admitted research is fund intensive, but urged support from government, adding that research can contribute to planning and implementation of appropriate intervention policies and strategies.

The quartet of participating institutions are Centre for Research and Development, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Rivers state, Institute for Niger-Delta Studies, Niger-Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa, Centre for Water and Sanitation, Rivers state University, Port Harcourt, Rivers state and Centre for Niger-Delta Studies, Delta state University, Abraka, Delta state.

Director, Centre for Niger-Delta Studies, Delta state University Abraka, Professor Peter Ottuh, who spoke in a telephone interview with The Nation after a strategic meeting with collaborating universities, yesterday, said a committee is to be set up to formulate areas of collaboration with a view to pooling resources together and presenting a common front on issues.

Ottuh said the four universities will focus on solving Niger-Delta issues through collaborative research by organising conferences, seminars, colloquium and workshops.

He said funding issues can be tackled through partnerships with international agencies, government and not-for-profit organisations.

Ottuh commended Professor Samuel Asagba, Vice Chancellor, Delta state University Abraka, for his steadfast commitment and support for the initiative.

Corroborating his counterpart from Delta state University, Prof Elliot Sibiri, Director, Institute for Niger-Delta Studies, NDU, Amassoma, said collaboration is imperative the initiative is to be successful.

He advocated for artisanal refiners to be coopted into mainstream oil refining process, as they possess the technical knowledge of crude oil refining.

He urged government to scrutinize the activities of artisanal refiners whose activities pose environmental issues, stressing that JV partners are not liable for spills (often outside the Right of Way of pipelines).

A former Acting Director, Institute for Niger-Delta Studies, NDU, Amassoma, Prof Sunday Abraye, said ” Niger-Delta has a shared cultural heritage, so when problems crop up, it occurs in similar patterns and have the potential of spiraling into neighbouring communities. Collaboration will help us understand our differences as well as our similarities and help us make recommendations”.