Obinna Ezeobi’s new book on Nigerian local content from scratch gets key ministers’ thumbs up
he Special Advisor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen commended Ezeobi for publishing a high-quality book that reflects a major economic policy of the Federal Government.
In a major milestone for the Nigerian oil and gas sector, a groundbreaking 267-page publication on the transformative journey of Nigeria’s local content policy has received widespread commendation from industry leaders, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and his Gas counterpart, Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo.
The book, authored by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, chronicles the evolution of strategic communication, stakeholder management, and collaboration among key players that have propelled Nigerian local content over the past 15 years.
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Noting this effort, the two energy ministers praised Dr. Ezeobi’s dexterity and courage in documenting the multifaceted contributions of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and its partners, highlighting the pivotal role that effective communication and stakeholder engagement have played in advancing Nigeria’s local content policy since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010.
Receiving a copy of the book in Abuja, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, hailed Dr. Ezeobi for his outstanding efforts in documenting Nigeria’s local content story.
He expressed admiration for the book’s aesthetics and quality, pledging that the Board would procure copies to ensure wide dissemination among industry stakeholders. Engr. Ogbe emphasised the importance of the publication in providing insights into the Board’s strategic initiatives, which continue to shape the industry.
Ogbe’s predecessor, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, was equally enthusiastic, lauding the book’s comprehensive narrative on local content success stories. The Special Advisor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, added her endorsement, commending Ezeobi for publishing a high-quality book that reflects a major economic policy of the Federal Government.
Other energy industry influencers
Notable figures in Nigeria and Africa’s energy sector have also endorsed the book, including the pioneer Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, who authored the book’s riveting foreword.
The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, recommended the publication to policymakers and local content advocates across the continent and beyond, describing it as an invaluable resource for understanding the impact of Nigeria’s local content initiatives.
Adding to the chorus of praise, Emeka Ene, Chairman of Oildata Group and former Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), commended the book’s chronicling of local content success stories, underscoring its relevance as Nigeria prepares to mark 15 years of the NOGICD Act.
What is book diving into specifically?
“Nigeria’s Local Content: A Journey of Strategic Communication and Economic Transformation” is divided into five distinct sections. It explores themes such as the evolution of the oil and gas industry, the impact of oil company divestments, and Presidential Directives on local content development.
Unique features include case studies on the NCDMB’s 10-year strategic roadmap and key Nigerian content initiatives, which were enabled by innovative communication strategies and stakeholder engagement.
The final section examines local content compliance and enforcement, offering findings from an empirical study on the impact of Nigerian content communications on compliance by oil and gas companies. The book bears the hallmark of Dr. Ezeobi’s extensive media background, his career at the NCDMB, and his doctoral research in energy communication.
Inspiration behind the project
According to Dr. Ezeobi, the Nigerian Content Act stands as one of the most impactful legislations in Nigeria’s post-democracy era. His decision to document the local content journey was inspired by his role in conceptualising and implementing strategic communication and stakeholder management initiatives since the NCDMB’s inception in 2010.
Through this book, he aims to showcase the remarkable progress achieved under the Act and the innovative communication strategies that have driven its success.
By targeting a wide range of readers, the book appears to be designed to resonate with oil and gas players, local content advocates, communication professionals, regulatory agencies, development partners, host communities, and historians.
It serves as both a resource and an inspiration for those invested in the future of Nigerian local content.
Dr. Ezeobi’s work has set a new benchmark for documenting the oil and gas sector’s transformation, ensuring that the Nigerian local content story remains a beacon of progress and innovation for generations to come.
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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.
