By Ali Elias
IMIRINGI, BAYELSA STATE — In a move to deepen grassroots participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday convened a one-day sensitisation and enlightenment workshop on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and Community Content Guidelines in Imiringi community, Ogbia Local Government Area.
The outreach marks a strategic shift by the Board to take its advocacy directly to host communities, rather than limiting engagement to urban centres.
Delivering the opening address on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbe, the General Manager, Zonal Coordination, Ifeanyi Okowa, said the decision to host the workshop in Imiringi was deliberate.
“The Board decided to hold this workshop in the community rather than in Yenagoa to increase the integration of community people and contractors into the Nigerian oil and gas industry,” he said.
Okowa emphasised that the NOGICD Act remains a critical framework for driving indigenous participation, noting that awareness at the grassroots level is essential to unlocking its full benefits.
In his keynote address, the Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Local Content, Andrew Esau, who represented Governor Douye Diri, described the workshop as both timely and historic.
He noted that Ogbia Local Government Area holds a unique place in Nigeria’s oil history, being among the earliest locations where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities.
“The purpose of this seminar is to raise awareness about the opportunities available to community people in the oil and gas industry, including contracts, loans, and training,” Esau said.
He commended the NCDMB for what he described as a demonstration of commitment to host communities by bringing the engagement directly to Imiringi, rather than centralising it in the state capital.
The state government, he added, is ready to strengthen collaboration with the Board to enhance local capacity and ensure broader participation of Bayelsa indigenes in the industry.
Esau, however, cautioned participants against adopting what he termed an “entitlement mentality,” urging them instead to take advantage of available opportunities.
“Sustainability is crucial. Participants must take this seminar seriously and maximise the opportunities presented,” he said.
The workshop featured technical presentations aimed at equipping participants with practical knowledge of entry points into the industry.
An officer with the NOGIC Joint Qualification System, Oluchi Obiatuegwu, provided an overview of the NOGIC-JQS platform, explaining its role in facilitating registration, prequalification, and access to oil and gas contracts.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development Fund, Fatima Mohammed—represented by Mr. Okezie U—outlined funding opportunities available through the Fund, including intervention schemes administered in partnership with financial institutions such as the Bank of Industry and FCMB.
Participants were also taken through the process of obtaining the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC), described as a mandatory certification for verifying compliance with local content requirements. The session was facilitated by Simeon Esiekpe, Supervisor, Zonal Coordination.
The event drew a wide range of stakeholders, including community leaders, contractors, and government representatives.
Senior NCDMB officials in attendance included Mr. Timbiri Augustine, Manager, Rivers Zone; Engr. James Eyetigha, Manager, Warri Zone; Mr. Joseph Adebayo, Manager, Project Zonal Coordination Headquarters; and High Chief Afangolo Dallas, Manager, Bayelsa Zone, who delivered the vote of thanks.
Other participants included Dr. Emma Ohanyere, Manager, Abia/Imo Zone, represented by Igwe Juliet, while Mr. Manfred Odemuya of Corporate Communications served as master of ceremonies.
The workshop reflects a broader effort by NCDMB to democratise access to opportunities in the oil and gas sector by bridging the information gap between regulators and host communities.
By decentralising sensitisation efforts, the Board is seeking to ensure that the benefits of Nigeria’s local content policy are not confined to established industry players, but extend to emerging entrepreneurs and community-based contractors.
For many participants in Imiringi, the engagement offered more than policy exposition—it provided a clearer pathway into an industry often perceived as distant and inaccessible.