By Ali Elias
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding opportunities for all Nigerians, including rehabilitated inmates and other vulnerable groups, as part of efforts to deepen local content development and drive inclusive economic growth.
The Board made the commitment when it received the Bayelsa State Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Controller Spiff Baranaye S., and his delegation at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the Board remained committed to human capital development, inclusion and sustainable capacity building in line with the objectives of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Speaking through the Manager, Government Relations, Mr. Teddy Bai, Ezeobi highlighted the remarkable progress recorded under Nigeria’s local content regime since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010.
“Since the enactment of the Act in 2010, Nigerian Content has grown from less than five per cent to over 61 per cent, driven by deliberate investments in skills development, employment creation and in-country industrial capacity,” he stated.
The NCDMB official noted that while the country has made significant gains in local participation across the oil and gas value chain, the next phase of growth would require a broader and more inclusive approach.
“According to him, the next phase of Nigerian Content growth requires deeper inclusion, ensuring that every willing Nigerian, including rehabilitated inmates and other vulnerable groups, has access to opportunities for productive participation in the nation’s economy.”
He stressed that the Board’s development philosophy is centred on empowerment through capacity building rather than dependence on financial handouts.
“Our approach remains focused on building capacity rather than providing handouts,” he said, adding that “meaningful partnerships and sustainable empowerment initiatives are critical to national development.”
The visit provided a platform for both institutions to discuss possible areas of collaboration aimed at supporting rehabilitation programmes, vocational training, skills acquisition and social reintegration initiatives, particularly within Bayelsa State.
Observers note that such partnerships could help create pathways for rehabilitated inmates to acquire employable skills and contribute meaningfully to the economy upon their reintegration into society.
The engagement aligns with NCDMB’s broader strategy of leveraging local content as a tool not only for economic development but also for social transformation, ensuring that the benefits of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources reach a wider segment of the population.
Since its establishment, the Board has championed various human capital development initiatives, including technical training programmes, apprenticeship schemes, centres of excellence, research and development support, and intervention funds designed to strengthen indigenous participation in the petroleum industry.
Industry stakeholders have increasingly argued that sustainable local content development must go beyond ownership and employment statistics to include deliberate efforts aimed at empowering disadvantaged and underserved groups.
The meeting with the Nigerian Correctional Service reflects a growing recognition that rehabilitation and economic inclusion are critical components of national development and social stability.
For the NCDMB, the message was clear: the future of Nigerian Content will be measured not only by the percentage of local participation achieved but also by how effectively opportunities are extended to every Nigerian willing to contribute productively to the nation’s growth.
The NCDMB delegation at the meeting included Mr. Desmond Awumade, Manager, Security; Mrs. Tobechi Mbah, Supervisor, Government Relations; Mr. Biboye Diri, Officer, Security; and Mr. Nyoki Ita, Miss Salamatu Ibrahim and Mrs. Oyiza Lambert of the Corporate Communications Division.