Undeterred by changes in the leadership of the country, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has declared that its commitment to local content development remains unwavering.
The agency made this known during a workshop hosted for media stakeholders in Lagos yesterday.
Speaking, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, General Manager Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination at NCDMB praised the media for their efforts in supporting and promoting the activities of the agency.
He noted that the theme of the workshop “The strategic role of the media in sustaining Nigerian Content Legacies” was coming at a time where the agency is transitioning to another phase in deepening local content.
According to Barr. Esueme, the Board has achieved 83 percent of its 10-year roadmap.
“The foundation for NCDMB was laid in 2001 when former President Olusequn Obasanjío inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Local Content in the Oil and Gas Industry. He mandated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to drive the policy and set certain targets.
“In its efforts to implement the policy, the national oil company set up the Nigerian Content Division within its system and issued some Nigerian content directives to industry stakeholders.
“Since there was no force of law behind the Nigerian content directives, operators of the industry found it convenient to comply on the best endeavour basis, and other industry stakeholders to work closely with the National Assembly to develop the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Bil.During the succeeding administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly passed the NOGICD Bill.
“President Goodluck Jonathan assented the Bill into law on April 22 and this gave birth to the NCDMB. Dr. Ernest Nwapa, former staff of the Nigerian Content Division of NNPC served as the pioneer Executive Secretary from April 2010 to May, 2015. He was succeeded by Arc Denzel Kentebe. In September 2016, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote was appointed as the 3rd substantive Executive Secretary of the Board.
“Now, the board is under a new Executive Secretary in the person of Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe.”
Delivering a speech at the workshop, Group Managing Director of Leadership newspapers, Mr Azu Ishiekwene reminded the media stakeholders of their pivotal roles as gatekeepers of informing and directing conversations that would spur the development of the oil and gas sector.
Mr Azu noted that though technology has posed a threat to journalists, he explained that journalists are meant to reskill their competencies and optimize their work using technology
