In a move aimed at deepening inter-agency collaboration and improving service delivery, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have held a joint knowledge-sharing session at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The session brought together senior officials from both organisations to exchange ideas on corporate governance, peer review, and institutional performance. Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director of Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu said the engagement reflects what strong public institutions should be doing, comparing notes, learning from one another, and improving service delivery to their stakeholders, which include the government, Nigerian citizens, host communities, and companies in the oil and gas sector.
Dr Halilu commended the NDDC for recognising the Board as a model for peer learning, adding that such engagements should be a two-way exchange. He noted that NCDMB itself continues to evolve through regular internal reviews, audits, and system automation that strengthen transparency and reduce inefficiencies.
According to him, the Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit has been instrumental in identifying vulnerable areas, while automation across Human Resources and management systems has created a culture of accountability and data-driven governance.
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He further emphasised the potential areas for partnership between both organisations, particularly on projects like the multibillion-naira Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre, where NDDC had earlier pledged involvement at the groundbreaking ceremony in February 2023. He also referenced NCDMB’s Community Content Guideline, designed to integrate host communities into the oil and gas value chain through employment, training, and contractor support, as stipulated by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
Dr Halilu added that the Board’s “Back-to-the-Creeks” initiative is part of its broader effort to empower youths and teachers in oil-producing areas by providing skills development and improved educational infrastructure. “The more we invest in young talents in host communities,” he said, “the more they are available to participate in the oil and gas industry. As we build entrepreneurs, we integrate them into the supply chain, that is how sustainable development truly happens.”
Responding, NDDC’s Director of Corporate Governance, Mr Anele Stephen Nzelaw, commended NCDMB for its remarkable achievements within a relatively short time. He noted that the visit was driven by the Commission’s desire to learn from the Board’s operational efficiency, governance structure, and accountability systems. “You have been around for only 15 years,” he said, “but the progress achieved through your human capital development programmes and fabrication yards speaks volumes. These are lessons our organisation can learn from.”
Nzelaw explained that the new NDDC management is focused on transforming the Commission from a transactional body into a strategic development institution. He disclosed that the Commission has engaged KPMG to design a governance framework that ensures continuity of policies and programmes. “After 25 years, we have decided to move our operations from a transactional dimension to a strategic transformational level,” he said. “Our partnership with NCDMB is part of this reform process.”
The meeting also featured technical presentations from NCDMB officials, who shared insights into the Board’s internal processes and governance model. Dr Zuwairat Azekome spoke on NCDMB’s governance framework and project implementation strategy; Ms Onajero Osiebe discussed the Board’s capacity-building and organisational discipline systems; Ms Seleke-Ere Owoupele highlighted the Board’s Service Level Charter and its journey to the top of transparency rankings; while Ms Mercy Azibayam Egba outlined the Board’s internal audit procedures.
The session concluded with a guided tour of the Nigerian Content Tower, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre and the 1,000-capacity ultramodern Conference Centre. Both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to continuous collaboration, peer learning, and the pursuit of efficient service delivery to drive development in the Niger Delta and the nation at large.
