By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has honoured 14 of its retired employees for their contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s local content policy and implementation over the past 16 years.
The retirees were recognised at a Retirees’ Celebration Dinner held at the Conference Centre of the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where the Board reflected on the 16-year journey of local content development since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010.
According to a statement signed by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, NCDMB, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate the retirees’ years of service, institutional contributions and impact on the development of local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the event, Mohammed Babaginda Umar, a retired Director of Legal Services, recalled the challenges faced by the Board in its early years, particularly resistance from some industry stakeholders to the implementation of local content policies.
Umar said the challenges were addressed through dialogue and tact, noting that local content participation had grown from about five per cent in 2010 to 61 per cent.
“Local content has come to stay,” he said.
Another retiree, Daziba Patrick Obah, a pioneer Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and former Acting Executive Secretary of the Board, recalled the early stages of NCDMB’s development, including the challenges associated with the construction of the 17-storey Nigerian Content Tower.
Obah also spoke about the Board’s early efforts to promote research and development in the industry, recalling the maiden Research and Development Fair and Conference held in Lagos in September 2017.
Isaac Yalah, a retired Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, who previously served in Finance and Personnel Management, commended the Board for providing training and other tools that enabled employees to contribute effectively to its mandate.
He described the US$350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund as a major intervention that supported the growth of indigenous businesses in the oil and gas sector, citing companies including Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Seplat Energy and Oando.
Dr. Ginah Otonye Ginah, former General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, also recalled the Board’s efforts to establish training and ICT centres in secondary schools located in oil-producing communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Esueme Dan Kikile, said the retirees had contributed to the Board through knowledge sharing, mentoring, relationship building and institutional experience.
He thanked the retirees for their service and wished them good health, peace, happiness and fulfilment in retirement.
The celebration also featured a testimonial session, cultural performance and dancing, as colleagues and friends joined the Board to celebrate the retirees.
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Those honoured included Dr. Ama Ikuru, Adelana Akintunde, Dr. Obinna Ofili, Angela Okoro, Taridouye Gagariga, Ombu Atonbara, Okpetu Gabriel and Peter Isu Odo, among others.
