By Ali Elias
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to reconnecting with grassroots communities as a strategic step to deepen understanding of Nigerian content and strengthen local participation in the oil and gas industry.
At the Nigerian Content Youth and Civil Society Conference held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Engr. Ogbe—represented by the Board’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi—declared that the era of high-level, distant communication must give way to a more inclusive, community-facing engagement model he described as “back to the creeks.”
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Ezeobi said the NCDMB decided to refocus its outreach after 15 years of engaging primarily with senior stakeholders in the industry.
“We have spent 15 years communicating at a higher level,” he said. “Now we must return to the communities to explain what local content truly means, to show young people how they are connected to the oil and gas value chain, and to help them understand the role they play in sustaining Nigeria’s energy sector.”
He noted that many young Nigerians remain unaware of what the NCDMB does, despite its centrality to the nation’s petroleum industry. “After today,” he told participants, “it will no longer be you and them. You are part of Nigerian content. You are stakeholders with influence.”
Dr. Ezeobi explained the Board’s stakeholder mapping framework, which identifies all groups that directly or indirectly influence the oil and gas ecosystem—government institutions, the National Assembly, community leaders, and crucially, young people.
“Youth have both a high interest and high influence,” he said. “A single tweet can shape perceptions. A blockade at a gate or pipeline can disrupt operations. Your voice matters, and this is why we are here—to make you our advocates, ambassadors, and partners.”
He assured participants that this engagement would become an annual platform dedicated to empowering youth to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s industrial future.
Dr. Ezeobi credited the renewed community-driven direction of the Board to the leadership of Engr. Ogbe, who he said insisted on taking Nigerian content directly to host communities.
One of the event’s keynote speakers, His Royal Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo, charged young people to embrace negotiation as a tool for peacebuilding and progress. He stressed that fairness and dialogue were essential for sustainable development.
In his presentation titled “The Impact of Local Content Development on the Bayelsa State Economy,” Dr. Ezeobi traced the evolution of oil exploration in Nigeria and clarified common misconceptions about the NCDMB.
He outlined several transformative NCDMB-driven projects across Bayelsa State, including the 17-storey NCDMB Headquarters, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGAPS) in Emeyal 1, an 18MW power plant, a four-star hotel under construction, the NCDMB Gas Hub, the Brass Shipyard (Dry Dock), the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre, and extensive human capacity development programmes.
During the interactive question-and-answer session, participants voiced concerns about unmet expectations. In response, Dr. Ezeobi reminded the audience that local content is a long-term national project.
“It is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “Progress is continuous, and we will keep improving and delivering value to communities.”
He reaffirmed the Board’s intention to sustain the dialogue. “This engagement will continue every year,” he said. “You are essential stakeholders, and together, we will build a stronger Nigerian content ecosystem.”