NCDMB Holds Strategic Engagement with Media Practitioners, Youth Groups in PH
In line with its mandate under Sections 67 and 70(n) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) held a strategic engagement with media practitioners and youth stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
The event took place at Sparklyn Hotel, New GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The forum was designed to deepen the relationships between the Board, media professionals, and youth bodies, while also providing clarity on the Board’s operational frameworks.
It served as a platform to outline how stakeholders can work collaboratively with the NCDMB to advance the goals of Nigerian Content development.
In his opening remarks, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, highlighted the importance of consistent stakeholder engagement.
He emphasized the Board’s commitment to capacity building, not only within the oil and gas industry but also in the media space.
According to him, the NCDMB organizes workshops and training programs to enhance the competence of media professionals, ensuring they are better equipped to propagate the Board’s activities and achievements.
Dr. Ezeobi further stressed that the NCDMB is a pan-Nigerian agency mandated to drive capacity development in the oil and gas industry, and not an interventionist agency for the Niger Delta region.
Representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, delivered a presentation on the milestones of Nigerian Content implementation.
He underscored that the Board’s primary focus remains in-country value addition, achieved by developing local capacity, enforcing compliance with the NOGICD Act, and ensuring that Nigerians play key roles across the oil and gas value chain.
He noted that the NCDMB has been consistently recognized as one of the leading government agencies by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
Also contributing, Mr. Omomehin Ajimajiye, General Manager Midstream, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate NCDMB, highlighted landmark projects of the Board, including the establishment of six Centers of Excellence across Nigeria.
These centers, he explained, focus on specialized areas such as gas studies at the LNG Center at 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, among others.
According to him, the directorate has trained over 1,800 Nigerians in various technical fields, while also spearheading industrialization through projects that continue to enhance Nigerian Content across sectors.
Adding to the discussions, Mr. Bufazi Tareowei, Deputy Manager, Capacity Building, reiterated the Executive Secretary’s desire to deepen collaboration between the Board and key stakeholders and encouraged participants to register on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS) portal, which serves as the gateway to access the Board’s numerous capacity-building programs and opportunities.
The engagement ended with a commitment by the GM Corporate Communications that the NCDMB will hold similar and regular engagements in other states in the Niger Delta with media and youth groups.
Representatives of youth groups and media platforms commended NCDMB for organizing the event, which marked a renewed commitment to partnership and shared growth.
