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  • Firms hold training on local content compliance

    Firms hold training on local content compliance

    17ASUS Resources Ltd., in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has successfully concluded a training program on local content compliance in procurement and tendering.

    The training, which took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, ended on November 28, 2025.

    The programme aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of local content compliance in procurement and tendering processes within the oil and gas industry.

    This initiative aligns with NCDMB’s commitment to deepening local content development and promoting indigenous participation in the sector.

    Key Takeaways from the training: understanding local content regulations and policies; compliance strategies and best practices; procurement planning and tendering processes; contract management and supplier development

    Abiola Akindolire, COO of 17 Asus Resources Ltd, was full of praise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, lauding him for his support for the board.

    The NCDMB has been at the forefront of promoting local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    The board’s Executive Secretary, Felix Omatsola Ogbe has reiterated the organization’s commitment to implementing initiatives that foster local content growth and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

    This training program is part of NCDMB’s efforts to enhance the capacity of Nigerian businesses and professionals in the oil and gas sector.

    By investing in local content development, the board aims to increase the participation of indigenous companies in the industry and promote economic growth.

  • NLNG, NCDMB to partner on asset intervention programme

    NLNG, NCDMB to partner on asset intervention programme

    Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have engaged in productive discussions towards collaboration in support of NLNG’s planned revamp and enhancement of key operational facilities in Trains 1 to 6 of the NLNG plant. 

    In a statement on Thursday by Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development (NLNG) and Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division (NCDMB), the organisations said the initiative is aimed at improving asset performance and overall productivity.

    The collaborative meeting took place during the Nigerian Content Stakeholders Retreat hosted recently at NLNG’s operational base at Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State.

    During the retreat, the General Manager Production, NLNG, Nnamdi Anowi outlined the company’s revamp programme named “Accelerated Asset Intervention (AAI).” 

    He explained that the initiative is expected to commence in 2026 and will require NCDMB’s support and relevant approvals to enable timely execution.

    According to him, the AAI programme is intended to overhaul the Trains and Common Facilities, which are key to operations.

    “The goal is to implement predictive maintenance and continue to deliver sustainable top quartile and reliability performance, continue to deliver gas and value to the country and retain NLNG’s position as the best company in the country,” he said.

    Responding, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Director of Capacity Building, NCDMB, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, pledged NCDMB’s support for NLNG’s plans, in line with the existing close collaboration between the organizations and NCDMB’s role as a regulator and business enabler in the oil and gas industry. 

    He noted that NCDMB and NLNG had collaborated successfully to develop the first Service Level Agreement (SLA) between an operating company and a regulator in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and are currently working on other technical capacity building initiatives.   

    He recalled that NCDMB granted accelerated approvals for key projects in the NLNG Train 7, which enabled the project to commence in 2020 at the height of COVID-19 pandemic. 

    NCDMB equally granted speedy approvals and support for the new gas projects, which will provide feedstock for Train 7, he stated. 

    The Executive Secretary emphasized the need for NLNG to optimize Nigerian content and utilize in-country capacities in the proposed packages, in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

    Speaking later at the Award Gala Dinner marking the formal conclusion of the Nigerian Content Stakeholders Retreat and Appreciation Night 2025, the Executive Secretary commended NLNG for the giant strides it had recorded with the Train-7 Project. 

    He expressed delight that the Train-7 Project currently employs thousands of workers, describing it as a huge contribution to the nation’s economy.

    Pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa, noted that NLNG’s leadership in local content development went back many years, recalling that the company stood out as an early “icon of Nigerian Content” because of its voluntary compliance.

    He added that NLNG also commissioned the industry’s first skills gap analysis, promptly circulating the findings to guide stakeholders and policymakers on priority capacity-building needs to strengthen in-country value addition.

    He also commended the NCDMB for remarkable success in implementation of the NOGICD Act and achievements made so far. 

    The climax of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding companies and individuals for their contributions to Nigerian Content development in Nigeria.

  • Bellazir, NCDMB train youths on fire alarm, others

    Bellazir, NCDMB train youths on fire alarm, others

    Bellazir Energy Limited, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has successfully concluded a training program on fire alarm, gas detection, and access control technologies in Lagos.

    The initiative aimed to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills in these critical areas, enhancing local capacity and employability in the oil and gas sector.

    The program focused on imparting industry-relevant skills to strengthen local capacity and enhance employability in the oil and gas sector.

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    The collaboration between Bellazir Energy Limited and NCDMB underscores their commitment to developing the skills of Nigerian youths and promoting local content development.

    Participants received certificates and starter kits to aid in their future endeavors.

    The CEO of Bellazir Energy Limited, Christabel Aniamaka, lauded NCDMB for their support and collaboration in making the training program a success.

    This partnership highlights the growing emphasis on local content development and capacity building in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has been actively promoting local content development and capacity building in the oil and gas sector. Their efforts aim to achieve 70% in-country value retention by 2027, aligning with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s strategic roadmap.

  • NCDMB, NSE launch Nigerian Engineering Olympiad to address skill gap

    NCDMB, NSE launch Nigerian Engineering Olympiad to address skill gap

    In order to address the technical skills gap engineering graduates are grappling with, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), which is a transformative initiative.

    The Olympiad, officially launched in Abuja, aims at inspiring and nurturing engineering innovation while generating industry-ready professionals equipped to meet the demands of the modern Nigerian economy.

    Speaking at the launch event, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of NCDMB, emphasised the urgent need to close the widening gap between theoretical education and practical skills among Nigerian engineers. 

    He cited Citing a 2023 industry survey, which revealed that only about 5 per cent of engineering graduates are deemed industry-ready upon graduation, with over 70 per cent lacking the hands-on technical abilities required, especially in high-technology and emerging fields. 

    This deficiency contributes to a shortage of competent local engineers, increased reliance on expatriates, and a worsening brain drain as talented Nigerian engineers seek opportunities abroad.

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    Ogbe expressed the NCDMB’s commitment to human capital development and innovation as central to Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness and economic growth. 

    He described the Olympiad as a key component of the Board’s human capacity development program, aiming to institutionalise an annual, competitive platform that identifies and nurtures exceptional engineering talent while linking them to industry mentorship and commercialisation opportunities. 

    He underscored the importance of collaboration among academia, industry, government, and technology institutions to translate applied research into tangible engineering solutions tailored to Nigeria’s energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and sustainability challenges.

    The Olympiad is designed to be more than a competition; it is a dynamic innovation incubator spanning ten months, progressing through regional contests, mentorship phases, prototype bootcamps, and culminating in a grand finale in April 2026. 

    Winners will not only earn recognition but also seed funding and technical guidance to develop viable ventures from their prototypes. This process supports the transformation of brilliant academic ideas into market-ready solutions, fostering entrepreneurship and the development of homegrown technology.

    Supporting this mission, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, NSE President, highlighted the Olympiad’s role in bridging the gap between academia and industry. 

    She lamented how Nigerian students’ intelligent inventions often remain uncommercialized, gathering dust instead of contributing to economic growth. 

    The NEO provides a structured pathway to carry these academic innovations beyond universities, emphasising financial viability, prototype development, refinement, detailed engineering, product validation, and intellectual property protection.

    Oguntala also appealed to the media to provide extensive coverage of the Olympiad phases to inspire a culture of innovation, urging government and policymakers to support initiatives that nurture local engineering talent. 

    The NSE will leverage its pool of experienced engineers to mentor participants throughout the competition stages.

    The collaboration between NCDMB, NSE, and other key stakeholders, including First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company, Renaissance African Energy Company, and Enactus Nigeria, reflects a shared vision to position Nigeria as an engineering innovation hub capable of solving national and global challenges through sustainable, indigenous solutions. 

    In conclusion, the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad represents a critical step toward tackling the low industry readiness of Nigerian engineering graduates by promoting applied learning, fostering entrepreneurship, and championing technological innovation that can drive Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic development forward. 

  • New equity fund to accelerate indigenous energy investments

    New equity fund to accelerate indigenous energy investments

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said the board will introduce a Nigerian Content Equity Fund (NCEF), a new financing window designed to provide long-term risk capital for high-impact indigenous companies.

    The announcement came as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, hailed Tamrose Limited for transforming a $10 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) facility into a continent-wide growth success.

    Speaking at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Lokpobiri said Tamrose’s evolution—from four vessels in 2019 to a fleet of 15 by 2025, alongside full repayment of its NCIF loan—demonstrates the catalytic value of the Board’s $350 million fund. He described the achievement as a testament to what disciplined public–private collaboration can deliver, warning that beneficiaries who fail to meet their repayment obligations would face legal action.

    Reaffirming government support for indigenous capacity development, the minister said strengthening the Fund remains a priority to enable more Nigerian companies scale operations across the oil and gas value chain.

    Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe—represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Esueme Dan Kikile—said Tamrose’s trajectory aligns with the vision of the NOGICD Act of 2010, which aims to place Nigerians “at the centre of value creation.” He noted that well-structured processes and strong partnerships have enabled the Board to drive measurable industry impact.

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    Ogbe disclosed that the NCEF will be formally launched at the 2025 Practical Nigerian Content Forum, adding that the new fund will support strategic and emerging sectors that require patient capital to grow.

    Tamrose’s Executive Chairman, Ambrose Ovbiebo, recounted the company’s rise from a modest team and four small vessels to a respected marine logistics provider serving top-tier international and local oil companies.

    He credited the NCIF as a “foundational catalyst” that expanded the company’s fleet, boosted its workforce from 50 to 244 people, trained over 100 cadets, and delivered healthcare support to more than 1,500 beneficiaries.

    Ovbiebo expressed appreciation to clients including ExxonMobil, SEPLAT Energy, TotalEnergies, Chevron, First E&P, NLNG, and Oriental Energy, as well as financial partners such as Union Bank, Keystone Bank, Fidelity Bank, Afreximbank, and the Bank of Industry (BOI).

    BOI’s Divisional Head, Extractive and Natural Resources, Taiye Emagha, praised Tamrose’s exemplary repayment record, describing the firm as every lender’s ideal customer. NIMASA’s Director General, Dayo Mobereola—represented by Jibril Abba—also commended the company for maintaining a fully Nigerian-flagged fleet and delivering consistent operational excellence.

  • Firm, NCDMB reserve $3m for Rivers technical college overhaul

    Firm, NCDMB reserve $3m for Rivers technical college overhaul

    The Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and the Nigeria Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) have set aside over $3million for the rebuilding and equipping of the Government Technical College, Port Harcourt.

    The rehabilitation according to them includes building a new Information and Communication Technology Centre, all four workshops and the general upgrade of facilities in the college.

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    The General Manager, Nigerian Content at Renaissance Africa Energy, Olaruwanju Olawuyi, made the disclosure at a stakeholders’ engagement on strengthening technical education for sustainable development held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Olawuyi said the development followed a directive from the NCDMB, which regulate local content activities in the oil and gas industry.

    In his remarks, Director of Capacity Building, NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele, said aside regulation the board emphasised on development and professionalism.

  • Renaissance, NCDMB reserve $3m for Rivers technical college overhaul

    Renaissance, NCDMB reserve $3m for Rivers technical college overhaul

    The Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and the Nigeria Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) have set aside over $3million for the rebuilding and equipping of the Government Technical College, Port Harcourt.

    The rehabilitation, according to them, would  include building a new Information and Communication Technology Centre, all four workshops and the general upgrade of facilities in the college.

    The General Manager, Nigerian Content at Renaissance Africa Energy, Olaruwanju Olawuyi, made the disclosure at a stakeholders’ engagement on strengthening technical education for sustainable development held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Olawuyi said the development followed a directive from the NCDMB, which regulate local content activities in the oil and gas industry.

    He said the strategic meeting was designed to get the buy-in of stakeholders on the project in the areas of its sustainability and protection of the facility when completed to achieve a shared ownership, adding that work including rebuilding of the perimeter fencing of the school had begun.

    He said: “Renaissance and NCDMB are working on a project at the Government Technical College Port Harcourt. It is an upgrade project. We are doing three things..

    “NCDB oversees all our activities in the oil and gas industries. So the NCDMB has directed Renaissance as part of the Human Capacity Development initiative to undertake this work. That’s how we got involved.

    “The first thing is that we’re upgrading the facilities as you will be able to tell. We are taking out all the rundown facilities, the ICT center, the four workshops. We’re taking them out and we’re building new ones. We are equipping it.

    “Equipping it means that we are putting the latest versions of these things and new ones into that place, both in terms of the ICT center and the four workshops. Number three is that we are making it sustainable.”

    While saying that the teachers would also be retrained, Olawuyi said: “We are scaling up the students, and we are making sure that the facility itself, we want to set them up for success such that it becomes more self-generating financially and it can run itself.”

    In his remarks, Director of Capacity Building, NCDMB, Abayomi Bamidele, said aside regulation the board emphasised on development and professionalism.

    Bamidele said: “So we’re not just a regulator in the oil and gas industry to make sure people do things right. We are also about development. And when it comes to that development, there are like three elements we need to look out for:

    “These are the people, the assets, and the goods we produce in the country. So our role, some other people call us local content. So we must make sure that we use everything we produce here, we utilize any of the people in employment and jobs, and also anybody that has any assets.”

    “Are you able to look at it quickly to make sure that the right type of training, I mean, education is done, so that by the time you graduate, nobody will be arguing whether you should get a job or not”.

    He added: “And that is why we’re focusing on universities, we are focusing on the professional education, we’re also focusing on secondary and primary school. In fact, just last year, we launched ‘Back to Greek’, which was about or focused on primary and secondary education”.

    He said that the stakeholders’ engagement was important to rob minds, ‘take action and make sure that in a few months’ time, we can start and deliver quality education in Government Technical College.”

    Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, pledged the council’s support towards realizing the project.

    Responding to some of the challenges raised by the partners, Ihunda promised that all illegal structures within the college will be removed within one week; even as he pledged further support to prevent any security breaches while the project is ongoing.

  • NCDMB unveils new strategy to boost local content

    NCDMB unveils new strategy to boost local content

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to corporate governance, accountability, and operational excellence as it charts a new course to strengthen local content performance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

    This follows a two-day strategic retreat held over the weekend in Akwa Ibom State, where members of the Governing Council and top management of the Board met to review statutory roles, deepen institutional understanding, and align strategies for more effective delivery of its mandate.

    The retreat — the first for the current Council since its inauguration in the first quarter of 2024 — was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) and Co-Chairman, Ekperikpe Ekpo; as well as other members of the Council. The Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, was represented by Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director of Capacity Building.

    Lokpobiri, in his opening remarks said the retreat was designed to equip Council members with a deeper understanding of their statutory oversight responsibilities as outlined in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and to ensure smooth collaboration with management.

    “The NCDMB has become a major enabler for business growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Our collective responsibility is to ensure it continues to function efficiently, transparently, and in full alignment with its statutory mandate”, Lokpobiri stated.

    He stressed the importance of teamwork, accountability, and adherence to the limits of authority between the Council and Management, describing them as essential for the Board’s long-term institutional stability.

    Representing the Executive Secretary, Engr. Bamidele commended the Ministers and Council members for their leadership and vision, noting that the retreat provided “a unique opportunity for strategic interaction, shared learning, and performance re-evaluation.”

    He highlighted the Board’s major achievements under the 10-Year Strategic Roadmap (2017–2027) — including the creation of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF), stronger industry partnerships, and a significant rise in local content levels from 5 percent in 2010 to 56 percent presently.

    “Our focus remains on deepening local content, increasing in-country value retention, and enhancing investor confidence in the Nigerian oil and gas sector,” he said.

    Industry experts and policy leaders delivered a series of presentations during the retreat. Former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation presented a paper on Corporate Governance, Accountability, and Efficiency, emphasising the need for the Council to provide strategic direction while allowing management the operational autonomy to deliver results.

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    Other speakers included the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, who spoke on The New Tax Laws and Their Implications for NCDMB and the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), and Nkem Iheanacho of the Lagos Business School, who discussed Strategies for Optimising Performance and Deepening Local Content.

    During a courtesy visit to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, the Council commended the state’s strides in industrial and energy development. Lokpobiri, who led the delegation, lauded Akwa Ibom’s infrastructure growth and expressed readiness for collaboration in the areas of compressed natural gas (CNG) and oxygen production.

    Governor Eno, in his response, thanked the NCDMB for its continued role in capacity building and investment promotion, noting that the Board’s initiatives align with the state’s economic diversification agenda.

    The retreat ended with a renewed commitment by both the Governing Council and Management to sustain reforms that will enhance operational transparency, institutional efficiency, and policy coherence in driving the NCDMB’s local content objectives.

  • NCDMB, others empower 100 graduates

    NCDMB, others empower 100 graduates

    One hundred young Nigerian graduates have commenced a transformative Graduate Internship Programme jointly sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company (RAEC) Limited, and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).

    The two-year initiative, tagged 2025/2027 NCDMB/PETAN/Renaissance Graduate Internship Programme, is designed to equip participants with industry-relevant skills, hands-on experience, and exposure to the operational realities of the oil and gas sector.

    The interns, drawn from diverse disciplines including engineering, geology, information and communication technology (ICT), and the natural sciences, will be deployed across PETAN member companies for structured and practical training.

    Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony at the Renaissance Residential Area Club Hall in Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development and local content advancement within Nigeria’s energy value chain.

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    Represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development (HCD), Esueme Dan Kikile, Engr. Ogbe noted that while infrastructure and asset ownership are vital, “human capacity development stands as the cornerstone of NCDMB’s mandate.” He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting programmes that promote knowledge transfer, skills enhancement, and capacity retention in the Nigerian energy industry.

    He commended Renaissance Africa Energy—formerly Shell Petroleum Development Company—and PETAN for sustaining and expanding a programme that began under SPDC’s initiative, praising their “alignment with Nigeria’s national content development vision.”

    Addressing the interns, Ogbe charged them to embrace the opportunity with dedication and discipline, describing them as “the next generation of professionals who will sustain Nigeria’s energy future.”

    In a joint presentation, PETAN representatives Okey Ukaegbu and Chinedu Maduaku said the programme’s objectives include enhancing innovation, operational excellence, and indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry.

    The General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Renaissance Africa Energy, Kene Akubue, in his closing remarks said the partnership reflects the progressive collaboration shaping Nigeria’s energy sector. He reiterated Renaissance’s commitment to deepening human capacity development and promoting local expertise in the country’s oil and gas value chain.

  • NCDMB targets 10,000 jobs with $7.5b oil projects

    NCDMB targets 10,000 jobs with $7.5b oil projects

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled a major Human Capital Development (HCD) initiative to train over 10,000 Nigerians in the top 10 most sought-after technical skills in the oil and gas industry.

    The programme, known as the NCDMB Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program, is designed to close critical skill gaps, prepare young graduates for high-value energy jobs, and position Nigerians for active participation in upcoming mega projects by both international and indigenous oil companies.

    Speaking during the program launch, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the initiative was informed by data from expatriate quota applications, industry engagements, and prior skills gap analyses conducted in partnership with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS).

    According to Ogbe, the new wave of large-scale investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector—including Shell’s $2 billion HI Field Gas Project and TotalEnergies’ $550 million Ubeta Gas Project—has created renewed demand for technical expertise. “Our goal is to ensure that Nigerians are not bystanders but key participants in these projects,” he said.

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    The top 10 high-demand skills identified under the program include sub-sea engineering, underwater welding, control and automation engineering, helicopter operations, marine and vessel operations, production and maintenance engineering, quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and geoscience and field data analysis

    The training targets Nigerians under the age of 35 with OND, HND, or B.Sc. degrees in relevant disciplines such as Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Gas, Welding, Metallurgy, Geology, Geophysics, and Computer Engineering.

    Participants will undergo a rigorous 12-month to multi-year training process covering classroom instruction, laboratory practicals, professional certifications, and hands-on industry experience through on-the-job training (OJT) partnerships with service companies.

    Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, NCDMB’s Director of Capacity Building, noted that each skill area will have at least three service company partners, with soft skill components delivered by accredited training providers under the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN).

    Graduates deemed competent and field-ready will be entered into NCDMB’s skills database, accessible to operators and service firms under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, which mandates first consideration for Nigerians in employment and training.

    To support participants, NCDMB will provide medicals, monthly stipends, personal protective equipment (PPEs), and insurance coverage.

    The Board emphasised that the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda and the administration’s goal of driving Nigeria toward a $1 trillion economy, leveraging local capacity in the energy sector.