By Ali Elias
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reiterated its commitment to fostering meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, stressing that inclusion must go beyond policy statements to the creation of sustainable economic opportunities.
The commitment was reaffirmed at a knowledge-sharing workshop themed, “Beyond Inclusion: Creating Real Opportunities in Oil and Gas for All Abilities,” held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The workshop brought together stakeholders, industry professionals and members of the disability community to explore pathways for expanding access to employment, entrepreneurship and capacity-building opportunities within Nigeria’s energy sector.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Dise Ogbise-Harry emphasized the need to move from conversations about inclusion to practical actions that empower persons with disabilities economically and professionally.
He highlighted the social and economic benefits of ensuring that no segment of society is excluded from participating in one of Nigeria’s most strategic industries.
According to him, persons with disabilities must be encouraged and supported to acquire relevant skills that will enable them to compete effectively and take advantage of emerging opportunities across the oil and gas value chain.
Ogbise-Harry urged participants not to allow existing challenges or societal barriers to limit their aspirations.
He stressed that the energy industry is evolving rapidly and that individuals equipped with the right skills and competencies would be well-positioned to benefit from new opportunities being created through local content development and industry expansion.
The workshop also featured a presentation on opportunities available to persons with disabilities in the oil and gas sector, delivered by Mr. Teddy Bai on behalf of the General Manager, Corporate Communications, NCDMB.
The presentation outlined the Board’s ongoing efforts to promote broader participation in the industry and highlighted areas where PWDs can contribute meaningfully through employment, enterprise development, skills acquisition and service delivery.
Participants were also engaged in an interactive session that provided a platform for discussions on the challenges confronting persons with disabilities, as well as practical solutions for improving access to opportunities within the sector.
The event forms part of NCDMB’s broader local content agenda aimed at ensuring that the benefits of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources are shared more inclusively across different segments of society.
Industry observers note that while significant progress has been made in increasing indigenous participation in the sector since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, more work remains to ensure that vulnerable and underrepresented groups are fully integrated into the industry’s workforce and value chain.
By focusing attention on persons with disabilities, the Board is widening the scope of the Nigerian content conversation beyond ownership and local participation to include social inclusion and equal opportunity.
The workshop underscored a growing recognition that diversity and inclusion are not merely social obligations but important drivers of innovation, productivity and sustainable economic development.
For many participants, the message was clear: true inclusion is achieved not when opportunities are promised, but when barriers are removed and individuals of all abilities are empowered to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The latest initiative reinforces NCDMB’s resolve to build an oil and gas industry that is not only locally driven but also accessible, inclusive and reflective of the diversity of Nigeria’s population.