By Els William
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has held a strategic engagement with media practitioners and youth stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, reaffirming its commitment to capacity building and deepening collaboration in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
The one-day forum, held at Sparklyn Hotel, New GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was convened in line with Sections 67 and 70(n) of the NOGICD Act 2010. It served as a platform to strengthen relationships between the Board, media professionals, and youth groups, while providing clarity on NCDMB’s operational frameworks.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, emphasized the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement. He noted that the Board remains committed to building capacity, not only within the oil and gas industry but also among media practitioners.
According to him, NCDMB regularly organizes workshops and training programs to enhance the competence of media professionals, ensuring they are better positioned to highlight the Board’s initiatives and achievements. He stressed, however, that the NCDMB is not an interventionist agency for the Niger Delta, but a pan-Nigerian institution mandated to drive capacity development across the oil and gas sector.
Representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, delivered a presentation on milestones achieved in Nigerian Content implementation. He underscored the Board’s central focus on in-country value addition by developing local capacity, enforcing compliance with the NOGICD Act, and ensuring Nigerians play key roles across the oil and gas value chain.
Halilu also highlighted that NCDMB has been consistently recognized by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) as one of the leading government agencies in efficiency and service delivery.
On his part, Mr. Omomehin Ajimajaye, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, showcased landmark projects spearheaded by the Board. These include the establishment of six Centres of Excellence across Nigerian universities, focusing on specialized areas such as gas studies at the LNG Centre in the University of Port Harcourt, safety and environmental studies at Modibbo Adama University of Technology, and engineering innovation at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Ajimajaye disclosed that over 1,800 Nigerians have been trained in various technical fields through NCDMB initiatives, while the Board has also championed industrialization projects that boost Nigerian Content across sectors.
Also speaking, Mr. Bufazi Tareowei, Deputy Manager, Capacity Building, encouraged participants to register on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS) portal, which remains the gateway to accessing the Board’s numerous training and capacity-building opportunities.
The engagement ended with a commitment by Dr. Ezeobi that similar interactive sessions would be replicated in other Niger Delta states, further cementing NCDMB’s partnership with media and youth stakeholders.
Representatives of participating media platforms and youth groups commended the initiative, describing it as a renewed commitment by the Board to collaboration, inclusion, and shared national growth.