The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has now concluded a journey that commenced 48 hours ago of being part of the 2024 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference held in Namibia of course. There, delegates attending the second edition of the two-day event got insider knowledge about the Board’s remarkable strides at home.

At the Mercure Hotel Windhoek in Namibia was where they all gathered to catch what the NCDMB’s recent successes have been like in exactly 14 years of existence. It is a fact that the agency has been at the forefront of transforming the oil and gas industry in West Africa through the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.

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It is this groundbreaking legislation that has helped reshape industry spending and boost Nigeria’s in-country capacity development. The remarkable feat made under this act was the highlight of a presentation delivered by Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB.

Although the Executive Secretary wasn’t personally in Namibia to give the address, he was ably represented. The General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination at the Board, Esueme Dan Kikile Esq. aided him through representation to speak about the theme “Local Content and Sustainable Inclusive Economic Growth,” which deeply resonates with the African continent.

Engr. Ogbe shed light on the significant hydrocarbon discoveries that have bolstered the continent’s oil and gas reserves to an impressive 126 billion barrels of oil and approximately 614 trillion cubic feet of gas. These figures not only represent a wealth of resources but also a beacon of hope for energy security, economic development, and the industrialization of Africa.

Since the NOGICD Act came to life says the Executive Secretary, Nigeria has witnessed remarkable achievements like the creation of over 30,000 direct jobs, over 15 million training manhours, award of over 90% of contracts to Nigerian-owned businesses, utilization of the expatriate management system to ensure 80% of oil companies’ management positions are held by Nigerians, growth of successful indigenous operators who are now responsible for the production of more than 60% of Nigeria’s domestic gas requirements and over 15% of crude oil production, to mention a few.

The NCDMB’s presentation was not just a recount of past successes but also a pledge to the future. With a Nigerian Content level of 54% achieved by the end of 2023, the Board is unwavering in its commitment to reach the ambitious target of 70% by 2027.

A pursuit of this goal is a testament to the Board’s dedication to fostering an environment where local content thrives, empowering local businesses, and ensuring that the benefits of the oil and gas sector are widely felt across the nation.

The 2024 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference served as an ideal platform for sharing these insights and experiences, sparking conversations, and inspiring similar initiatives across the continent. It is clear that the NCDMB’s journey is one of purposeful progress, and its attendance at the conference has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the narrative of local content development in Africa.

Esueme Dan-Kikile Esq., the General Manager of Corporate Communications/Zonal Coordination, of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other members of the Board are currently attending the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference holding from 20th to 22nd, 2024,… pic.twitter.com/qB0rNkUZXT

— NCDMB (@OfficialNCDMB) August 22, 2024

As the NCDMB continues to champion this cause, welcoming interests from both West and East Africa, it stands as a beacon of inspiration for sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the oil and gas industry.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.