By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of reading widely and thinking critically, saying a strong reading culture is important to building knowledgeable and intellectually capable citizens.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, made the call on Tuesday at the fifth edition of the NCDMB Book Reading Programme held at the Conference Centre of the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Ogbe, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the quarterly programme was designed to encourage reading, stimulate intellectual discussions and expose participants to different ideas and perspectives.
“Books give us the opportunity to learn from the experiences and knowledge of others, and to engage issues from different perspectives,” he said.
The programme attracted writers, journalists, public relations practitioners, academics and university students, who read selected chapters of the featured book before engaging the guest author in an interactive session.
The guest author, veteran journalist, columnist and strategic communications professional, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, presented his 2025 book, The Pain and the Promise: Insights and Fragments on Nigeria and People, Public and Personal (1990–2025).
Speaking on the broader mandate of the NCDMB, Ogbe said the Board’s responsibilities extend beyond its activities in the oil and gas industry to include capacity building and human capital development.
“We support businesses, we develop institutions; we also create opportunities for Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the energy sector; we enable thought processes, and we enable people to enhance their intellectual capacities,” he said.
He stressed that human capital development should go beyond acquiring technical and professional skills to include developing a culture of continuous learning.
“We must read widely, think critically,” Ogbe said.
Nwabuikwu said his years as a newspaper columnist influenced his decision to compile and expand some of his thoughts on Nigeria and its people in book form.
“Journalism is the first draft of history,” he said, explaining that his intention was not only to report events as they happened but also to provide readers with deeper context and different perspectives.
According to him, the book draws largely from his reactions to events that took place between 1990 and 2025.
Nwabuikwu recalled Nigeria’s involvement in the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone as one of the issues that shaped his reflections.
He questioned the strategic benefits Nigeria derived from the intervention, recalling a disclosure by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 that Nigeria had spent about $8 billion sponsoring ECOMOG.
Explaining the title of the book, Nwabuikwu said The Pain and the Promise captures what he described as the contradictions in the Nigerian experience — the difficulties citizens face alongside the enormous potential the country continues to possess.
Responding to a question on his use of humour in his writings, Nwabuikwu described humour as “an escape valve”, particularly for writers who worked during periods of military rule and political repression.
He explained that writers often had to find creative ways of communicating their views without unnecessarily provoking those in power.
The author also advised aspiring writers to develop their individual voices rather than attempting to copy established writers.
“Be yourself; don’t try to write like other people,” he advised.
He encouraged writers to focus on issues that genuinely interest them, saying passion is important to building a strong and sustainable writing career.
The NCDMB Book Reading Programme was launched in August 2024, with the Senior Vice Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Leadership Newspapers, Azu Ishiekwene, as its first guest author.
The second edition, held on August 25, 2025, featured former Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, while King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, was the guest author at the third edition held on November 13, 2025.
The fourth edition, held on April 8, 2026, featured former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
The initiative provides a platform for authors, academics, students, media practitioners and members of the public to exchange ideas, discuss books and engage in conversations on issues affecting society.
The Board said the programme is also aimed at promoting literacy, critical thinking, knowledge sharing and lifelong learning among Nigerians.
