Construction is set to commence on the long-awaited Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMPRC) at Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as the project site was formally handed over to construction giant, Julius Berger Plc.

The site handover ceremony, held at the community town hall, marked a major milestone in the decades-long effort to honor the birthplace of Nigeria’s oil industry, where commercial oil production began in 1957.

The project, a multibillion-naira initiative, is spearheaded by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Shell Petroleum Development Company (now Renaissance Africa Energy Limited), and the Bayelsa State Government.

Designed as a world-class facility, the OMPRC will feature an Oil and Gas Museum showcasing geological formations, historic oil equipment, and interactive digital exhibits aimed at engaging students, researchers, and tourists.

The second component—a Research and Testing Centre—will host field trials around an abandoned oil well and provide hands-on learning opportunities for university students in oil and gas disciplines.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Director of Corporate Services, Abdulmalik Halilu, described the project as a historic development and fulfillment of the commitment to immortalise Oloibiri’s significance in Nigeria’s energy history.

He noted that, globally, the origins of oil exploration are typically preserved through heritage infrastructure such as museums and research centres—citing Pennsylvania in the U.S. as an example. “History is in the making,” he said, announcing that Julius Berger is mobilizing to the 55.05-hectare site with a clear project management and governance structure in place to ensure timely and transparent execution.

Ogbe also assured the host community of their continued inclusion and urged local youths to prepare for training and job opportunities to be created during and after construction.

Chief of Staff to the Bayelsa State Governor, Peter Akpe, described the handover as a transition from blueprint to reality. He praised the project promoters and the Otuabagi Stakeholder Committee for their steadfastness and unity.

Julius Berger’s Deputy Regional Manager, South and East, Rimon Marisho, described the event as “a perfect beginning” and pledged the company’s commitment to delivering quality work in collaboration with the community.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, and the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri, who pledged their support for the project and promised to ensure a secure and enabling environment.

Welcoming guests, Chairman of the Stakeholder Committee and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Otuoke, Professor Teddy Adias, expressed profound gratitude to the promoters for bringing the long-overdue project—first proposed in 1981 under President Shehu Shagari—to fruition.

He described the event as a defining moment for the Otuabagi community, which has long sought recognition as the cradle of Nigeria’s oil industry.

The funding structure for the OMPRC is a collaborative effort, with contributions in the ratio of 40 per cent from PTDF, 30 per cent from NCDMB, 20 per cent from Shell (now Renaissance Africa Energy), and 10 per cent  from the Bayelsa State Government.