When African leaders first began talking about local content in the oil and gas sector, it was not just about pride; it was about power. Nigeria became one of the first movers to flip the script and start local content discussions.

In 2010, it passed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, a bold law designed to put Nigerian companies and workers at the heart of its energy projects. Spearheaded by a coalition of reform-minded officials, industry stakeholders, and private-sector pioneers, and driven forward by agencies such as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the law imposed a new reality: build local capacity, utilise local talent, and retain more of the value chain within the country.

The journey has not been without resistance. Early on, there were doubts about whether local firms could meet the technical demands of a complex global industry. But through deliberate training programmes, funding schemes, and partnerships with global technology providers, Nigeria has grown its local content performance to more than 56 percent in 2025, one of the highest in Africa. The success has turned Nigeria into a reference point for other resource-rich nations eager to chart their own course.

That is why this week in Windhoek, Namibia, the Nigerian story took centre stage. At the 2025 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, officials from NCDMB and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) were not just sharing data; they were handing over a blueprint for how Africa can claim and keep its wealth.

On Day Two of the conference, NCDMB’s Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, delivered a presentation titled: Local Content Success Stories in Nigeria and Lessons Learnt. He broke down the six core pillars that have underpinned Nigeria’s progress: a strong regulatory framework, access to markets, gap analysis, capacity building, targeted incentives and funding, and sustained investment in research and development.

Halilu also highlighted PETAN’s role in shaping the local content landscape. With over 101 companies providing specialised technologies and employing more than 30,000 Nigerians, with a wider employment impact exceeding 100,000, PETAN has become a force multiplier for the policy.

Also Read: PETAN, partners launch African local content organisation with NCDMB support

In a panel session on Local content development: How Namibians can benefit from the oil and gas industry, NCDMB’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, urged Namibia to adapt Nigeria’s Project 100 initiative. This programme strategically supports select service companies with both financial and non-financial resources, enabling them to upscale capacity and secure greater participation in the industry.

He also called for government-private sector partnerships to deliver strategic energy projects, encourage collaborations between local companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and sponsor indigenous firms to global oil and gas conferences to foster technology transfer and partnerships.

Ezeobi further recommended that oil-producing nations introduce dedicated funding schemes for local service providers at single-digit interest rates, ensuring they can expand capabilities without being stifled by financing constraints.

Addressing challenges Nigeria faced in the early years of the NOGICD Act, from pushback by international firms to scepticism over local capacity, he noted that these were overcome through consistent stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and proof of performance by Nigerian service providers.

PETAN Chairman and NCDMB Governing Council member, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, also weighed in, advising Namibia to unbundle large projects so smaller, non-complex work packages can be awarded to emerging local firms. This, he said, provides a pathway for sustainable growth while gradually building capacity to handle more complex operations.

The collaboration between NCDMB and PETAN at the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference was not confined to speeches. Together, they hosted a joint exhibition booth that drew ministers, industry leaders, and technical partners. Many visitors wanted to understand Nigeria’s local content framework in detail, while others sought collaborations for technical services in their own fast-developing oil and gas sectors.

From the conference halls of Windhoek, one message rang clear: Africa’s energy wealth will only truly change lives if African hands, brains, and businesses remain at the centre of its extraction and transformation. Nigeria’s model shows it can be done, and that the rest of the continent does not have to wait another decade to get started.

Meiza Nigeria