Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has revealed that its Petroleum Technology Development Fund supported research on zeolite catalysts holds the potential to save Nigeria over 300 million dollars annually in foreign exchange by reducing dependence on imported catalysts across the petroleum industry.

Vice Chancellor Adamu Ahmed disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the PTDF Executive Secretary, Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, in Abuja, describing the patented indigenous zeolite catalyst technology as a practical demonstration of the value of sustained investment in university research.

Ahmed said the innovation carried strong commercial potential and could promote local manufacturing and technological self reliance within Nigeria's petroleum sector. He urged PTDF to facilitate commercialisation through strategic partnerships, pilot projects and deeper engagement with industry stakeholders.

"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," Ahmed stated.

The vice chancellor reaffirmed ABU's readiness to develop a practical roadmap to transform the zeolite research into a nationally recognised commercial success, leveraging the university's laboratories, research expertise and technical capacity. He also expressed interest in expanding collaboration with PTDF across postgraduate education, energy transition, local content development, digital innovation and capacity building.

Aliyu welcomed the visit and announced that PTDF would deepen its engagement 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 confirmed that ABU students would gain access to the new institution's 29 specialised laboratories, while ABU would supply academic manpower to support its teaching and research functions.

The PTDF chief also announced plans to domesticate the fund's training programmes to close Nigeria's skills gap in the oil and gas sector and reduce reliance on expatriate professionals. He noted that the Dangote Group currently employs more than 30,000 expatriates due to existing shortages in technical expertise, and called on ABU to support efforts to address the challenge.