The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has highlighted its field readiness training programme aimed at preparing 10,000 Nigerian youths to benefit from opportunities expected from new major oil and gas projects across the country.
The programme was presented at the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Sub-Saharan International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC 2026), taking place from February 10–12 at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, with over 1,200 delegates and more than 150 exhibitors from across the continent in attendance.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Chief Executive (CE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, on Tuesday led industry leaders to visit the NCDMB exhibition booth at the conference.
They were received by the General Manager Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, and the Acting Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Omomehin Ajimijaye. Explaining the Board’s messages at the conference, Ajimijaye said they include NCDMB’s role in promoting African local content, the field readiness training programme, and the successes of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCO Fund).
According to him, the Board’s field readiness training programme “will prepare 10,000 youths to benefit from the opportunities that would be created from the new major oil and gas projects.”
Earlier at the conference, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, delivered a keynote address titled “Africa’s Local Content Collaboration Strategy.” He underlined the importance of collaboration and a shared vision as Africa’s oil- and gas-producing nations explore strategies to foster local content and energy sufficiency in order to boost sustainable growth.
In his remarks, Engr. Ogbe said, “Our efforts cannot be siloed; they must be collective” to ensure not only real progress but consolidation of successes attained.
Represented by the Director Corporate Services, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, the Executive Secretary stated that collaboration between governments, private sector players, particularly captains of the oil and gas industry and financial institutions, as well as local communities, remains the bedrock upon which Africa’s energy sector must build successful local content strategies.
He disclosed that Nigeria has achieved 61 per cent in-country value retention within the last 15 years, noting that the local content strategy has been deliberate and systematic. According to him, it began with deepening indigenous participation in the oil and gas value chain, followed by capacity building.
He added that policies and guidelines have now been introduced that prohibit the transfer of certification to intermediaries. Engr. Ogbe explained that the current approach of NCDMB is aimed at ensuring that the Board works with very competent and capable contractors, describing this as a critical criterion in technical tenders.
At the continental level, he recalled the strategic commitment made by member countries of Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) at their November 2025 meeting in Brazzaville, capital of Republic of the Congo, toward harmonisation of policies on local content development and collaboration in the exploitation and utilisation of hydrocarbon resources.
He emphasised that countries must collectively leverage the Brazzaville Accord to promote regulatory harmonisation and sectoral cooperation, noting, “By working together across borders, industries, and sectors, we will be able to craft a robust, all-inclusive, and sustainable local content strategy that propels Africa’s energy sector to new and greater heights in a rapidly changing world.”
Engr. Ogbe also expressed satisfaction with the establishment of Africa Energy Bank (AEB), headquartered in Abuja under APPO in partnership with Afreximbank. He described the development as a strategic milestone that would significantly ease access to funding for energy sector projects across the continent and called on stakeholders to actively support the operational success of the Bank.
