Bayelsa Acting Governor Urges NCDMB To Engage Grassroots In Nigerian Content Development

By Eunice Nnachi*

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State – Bayelsa State’s Acting Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to prioritise grassroots engagement in its strategies.

Speaking at the 13th Practical Nigerian Content Forum in Yenagoa, Senator Ewhrudjakpo emphasised the need for inclusive policies that benefit all Nigerians.

The forum, themed “Deepening The Next Frontier For Nigerian Content Implementation,” saw the Acting Governor urging attendees to translate discussions into tangible action.

He stressed the importance of moving beyond dialogue to actionable implementation, advocating for the leveraging of technology and the empowerment of local talent to foster sustainable development.

“Leveraging technology and empowering local talent will create a vibrant ecosystem that promotes creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development,” Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated.

He commended the NCDMB’s leadership and commitment to advancing Nigerian content, highlighting the framework for excellence and innovation the board has established.

Reiterating Bayelsa State’s commitment to collaboration, the Acting Governor assured the NCDMB of the state’s continued partnership across sectors including energy, agriculture, healthcare, and tourism, aligning with the state’s ASSURED Prosperity Agenda.

He further emphasized the importance of building resilient and sustainable frameworks that enable community participation, particularly in the burgeoning digital economy, to ensure shared prosperity.

In his keynote address, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbe, showcased the board’s significant achievements over the past seven years.

These include the commissioning of a new library at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma (in partnership with Shell and others); the Kwale Gas Gathering and injection facility in Delta State; 150 LPG plants in Kaduna State; and a gas leak detection facility in Abuja.

Engr. Ogbe also highlighted the NCDMB Academy’s ongoing training programs for youths in the oil and gas sector and announced plans to establish new zonal offices in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Delta States.

The focus on manpower development underscores the NCDMB’s commitment to building a skilled workforce for the Nigerian oil and gas industry.