Our Impact In Nigerian Content Promotion Palpable-NCDMB

“In 2025, NCDMB will be 15 years. Looking at what we have been doing, the impact we have made in the oil and gas industry, moving Nigerian Content from less than five per cent in 2010 when we started to now 56 per cent, we have made significant progress.”

These were the words of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Management Board, NCDMB, Omatsola Ogbe at a one-day workshop for media stakeholders in Port Harcourt.

The workshop was to bring the stakeholders up to speed with activities of the board. Ogbe wasrepresented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile.  

The ES explained that “for every N100 spent in the industry by operators and service companies, N56 is now retained in-country in terms of value addition [local assets, goods, expertise, etc. utilised]. “Our target is to be at 70 per cent by 2027.”

“You need to interrogate us more,” he reasoned, noting, “How did we get there? What are the metrics used [in computation]? That’s what will make your reporting adequately informative.” He assured the journalists that the Board would be supportive whenever they seek such clarification.

He said the board has identified the integration of host communities into the oil and gas supply chain as one of the critical enablers of the strategic goal of 70 per cent by 2027, and has decided on appropriate measures.

He urged media practitioners to deploy their skills in interrogation of reports on Nigerian Content performance in the oil and gas industry, so as to make the facts behind the resounding success in in-country value addition known to citizens.    

Ogbe said the board was committed to implementing the  Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative designed to deepen the contributions of the oil and gas industry to the local communities through support of basic education, making affordable finance accessible to community contractors, equipping youths with relevant industry skills among other support that would benefit the local economy.

According to him, the board has reviewed upwards its Community Contracting Financing Scheme to enable contractors in host communities to secure and execute reasonable contracts in the oil and gas industry.

“The single obligor has now been raised from N20 million to N100 million which gives local contractors more opportunities to access higher figures.

These measures, among others, are intended to minimise or completely eliminate conflicts, and thus create a peaceful and harmonious operating environment for oil and gas companies.”

He identified the role journalists to the sustenance of the local content programme. He said: “We expect the media to interrogate these [policy initiatives and planned interventions] and also follow up and ensure that NCDMB is able to accomplish these, because it will help our communities; it will help our young people.”

In his paper on “purpose-driven journalism in the age of Artificial Intelligence,” Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, a former Editor with The Punch and Media Career Coach, dwelt on the value Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings to the work of the journalist and the limitations that have to be dealt with.

According to him, “If you have data, AI can analyse it for you”, it can sift data and give content; AI tools would “generate images, videos, photos, transcribe, and turn text to audio and vice versa.” Nonetheless, the tools cannot replace the individual’s capacity to think.

A journalist that is purpose-driven must have a goal, a vision, passion, and more, and would spare no efforts in acquiring appropriate skills and knowledge to make the best of AI, according to him. AI would enhance content sourcing and production, but mastery of the tools is required for efficiency. 

In another session, Bashir Ahmed and Mrs. Tassala Tersugh, with the moderator Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications, examined what it would take to achieve the 70 per cent target for Nigerian Content by 2027.

Ahmed said the board has to “take cognizance of market realities – how do we increase projects.” In addition, it would be rewarding if indigenous oil and gas companies strive for specialisation, concentrating their resources and energies where they could deliver value best.