The Institute of Niger Delta Studies (INDS), Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa State, is set to launch a partnership and investment prospectus and research endowment fund to strengthen scholarship and generate evidence-based solutions to the environmental, economic, social and cultural challenges confronting the Niger Delta.
According to the event flyer, the unveiling, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 24, 2026, has the theme: “Investing in Knowledge, Partnering for a Greater Niger Delta.”
The initiative is expected to provide a more sustainable funding base for the Institute for Niger Delta Studies (INDS), which is mandated to promote research, education, advocacy and capacity building on issues affecting the region.
The proposed fund comes amid growing calls for increased investment in research on the Niger Delta, where inadequate funding has continued to constrain efforts by universities and research institutions to produce the data and policy recommendations needed to tackle the region’s development challenges.
In a chat with Pinnacle Daily, Acting Director of INDS, Dr Wisdom Selekekeme Krokeyi, said the prospectus covers a couple of research areas within the Niger Delta, while the research endowment fund is designed to facilitate funding of research activities in those areas.
“The goal is that the prospectus has a lot of research areas that it contains within the Niger Delta, while the research endowment fund will be made to service the research areas,” he stated.
Dr Krokekyi, a lecturer in the Department of Economics, NDU, who is serving as the event host, said governors of all Niger Delta states have been invited to participate in the programme.
He emphasised that with the initiative, the institute aims to demonstrate that a stronger and prosperous Niger Delta is possible through knowledge cultivation, partnership and shared commitment.
As contained in the flyer, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, will be the keynote speaker; High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, will be the chief launcher, while Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will serve as special launcher at the event.
Governors of Niger Delta states, including Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Abia, Imo and Ondo, will be guests of honour at the event.
Highlights of the event include the presentation and unveiling of the INDS Partnership and Investment Prospectus, the launch of the INDS Research and Endowment Fund, partnership and investment opportunities, and exhibition of research innovations and development solutions.
There have been growing calls in recent years for studies on issues around the Niger Delta as part of efforts to find sustainable solutions to environmental and economic challenges facing people in the region. Four universities involved in Niger Delta-focused research appealed in 2025 for greater government funding, arguing that research into environmental degradation, flooding, erosion, conflict, conservation and other regional challenges is capital-intensive but critical to effective policymaking.
NDU’s Institute for Niger Delta Studies has a broad mandate covering the history, languages and culture of Niger Delta communities, management of forest and marine resources, environmental issues and other developmental concerns. Its enabling framework also recognises donations, grants and endowments as potential sources of funding.
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The university has in recent months intensified activities around the institute. In June, the INDS convened a policy dialogue on the history, environment and development challenges of the Niger Delta, bringing together academics, policymakers, traditional rulers and development practitioners.
The university also recently inaugurated an Advisory Council for the institute, with the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oboro Gbaraun II, as Chairman. The council is expected to provide strategic guidance for the institute’s research and development activities.
The development could mark a significant shift from dependence on conventional university funding towards a dedicated financing mechanism capable of supporting long-term studies, field research, publications, fellowships and policy-oriented projects on the Niger Delta.
With the region still grappling with environmental degradation, oil-related pollution, insecurity, unemployment, infrastructure deficits and persistent development gaps, proponents of stronger research funding argue that locally generated evidence is essential to designing interventions that address the realities of affected communities.
NDU’s Institute for Niger Delta Studies already publishes the Niger Delta Research Digest, a biannual multidisciplinary journal intended to disseminate research on the region.
The proposed endowment could therefore provide an institutional platform for attracting contributions from governments, oil and gas companies, development agencies, philanthropists, alumni and other stakeholders with an interest in the sustainable development of the Niger Delta.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X