NCDMB honours retirees, reflects on local content growth

The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010 and the exponential growth of local content in the oil and gas industry since the enactment in year 2010 were the key talking points among pioneering Management staff of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) hosted at a Retirees’ Celebration Dinner on Friday.

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At the event which held at the Conference Centre, Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Yenagoa, corporate headquarters of the agency, 14 former employees who had served in its seven Directorates, received Special Awards of Excellence for years of meritorious service to the organisation.

The retired Director, Legal Services Directorate (LSD), Mohammed Babaginda Umar, recalled the less-than-welcoming disposition of major oil and gas industry players towards the new enactment, which seeks to domicile value-adding activities and to promote utilisation of Nigerian human resources and local goods. He said that was a challenge the Directorate faced and worked hard to explain how the industry and the nation would gain from implementation.

“Local content was new in the oil and gas sector,” he noted, pointing out that companies were hardly cooperative, and tact was required to create understanding and compliance with provisions of the Act. He stated that it was an achievement of note that the companies gradually embraced the law and have become dependable partners as evidenced by the rapid growth of local content to 61 per cent, up from five per cent in 2010.

“Local content has come to stay,” he declared, adding that many other African countries now come to Nigeria to learn the secret of the country’s success. He called on staff still in the service of the company to give their best so as to maintain the momentum achieved in performance and growth.

Another retiree, Mr Daziba Patrick Obah, who had served in different capacities, as pioneer Director, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS) Directorate, Acting Executive Secretary of NCDMB (2016-17), and later as Director of Corporate Services, recalled challenges faced in regard to the construction of the 17-storey NCT, from the substructure to the superstructure, and how they were surmounted during his brief tenure as chief executive of the Board.

For Research and Development, which he noted is critical to the success of an endeavour as novel as local content development in this part of the world, funding posed a challenge at the initial stage. While it was conceived in certain quarters that the NCDMB be entirely responsible for costs, others wanted the oil and gas industry to fund research. The Board took up the responsibility without any difficulty, and demonstrated how it could efficiently and effectively manage research projects by successfully hosting the maiden Research and Development Fair and Conference in September 2017 in Lagos.

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Mr Isaac Yalah, who retired as Director Planning Research and Statistics (PRS), after serving previously as Finance and Personnel Management Directorate, said NCDMB is an institution that brings out the best in staff, providing the appropriate tools for work and staff development programmes that boosted productivity. “We had to put in everything,” he explained, as they strove to achieve set goals.

He described the US$350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) as a game changer with regard to indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry as several Nigerian service companies easily accessed the single digit facility and acquired necessary operational assets.

Listing the different ways NCDMB implementation of the NOGICD Act has been beneficial to indigenous companies, he said, “We are very proud to say we have the likes of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Seplat Energy Company, Oando” as leading indigenous companies in the upstream segment of the petroleum industry. He advised staff to keep learning and be focused at all times to move the Board to higher levels of attainment.

On his part, Dr Ginah Otonye Ginah, former General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, described his years at the NCDMB as “very exciting times,” stating that he learned a lot about how organisations work. “People were dedicated to their work … and there were a lot of trainings provided by the Board,” he noted.

He was particularly happy for the achievements recorded in driving digital awareness and literacy in oil-producing rural communities in the Niger Delta and elsewhere through the establishment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centres in secondary schools.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED), Mr Esueme Dan Kikile, said the gathering was to celebrate and honour some of the distinguished men and women who have dedicated significant years of their professional lives to the service of the Board and contributed to making NCDMB a leading organisation in the country.

He said the contributions of the retirees extended beyond the duties associated with their respective positions, as they “shared knowledge, built relationships, mentored colleagues and contributed to the institutional experience that continues to shape the Board today.”

On behalf of Management and the entire staff of the Board, Kikile wished them good health, peace, happiness and fulfilment and that they enjoy “many rewarding years ahead, surrounded by family, friends and loved ones.”

A major highlight of the evening was the testimonials, during which serving staff members who had worked closely with the retirees, including those who served as their Technical Assistants, shared personal experiences and reflections on their years of working together.

The testimonies provided an emotional and memorable moment as speakers recounted the professional guidance, mentorship, support and relationships they experienced while working with the retirees. The session further highlighted the lasting impact the celebrants had on their colleagues and the institution.

The ceremony also featured a dance session by the retirees and a vibrant cultural performance, which added colour and entertainment to the celebration and provided an opportunity for the celebrants and their former colleagues to interact in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

Other retirees honoured include Dr Ama Ikuru, former Director Capacity Building, Mr Adelana Akintunde, former Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Obinna Ofili, former Director Finance and Personnel Administration, Mrs Angela Okoro, former General Manager Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Mr Taridouye Gagariga, former Manager Properties, Mr Ombu Atonbara, former Manager Audit, Mr Okpetu Gabriel, former Deputy Manager Capacity Building, and Mr Peter Isu Odo, former Manager Security.