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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has again commended the media for its partnership towards the actualization of the nation’s quest for the exploration and exploitation of its abudant gas resources for development.
The NCDMB’s General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr. Ginah, O. Ginah gave the commendations in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital while giving his welcome speech at a capacity building workshop for media stakeholders organized by the board with the theme; ‘Enhancing Media Competencies to Support Nigerian Content in a Gas Economy.’
He noted that following the board’s continuous resolve in enlightening and informing the general public on its activities, especially as it relates to oil and gas, the board has spared no efforts in creating synergies with the media in that direction.
This was just as he promised the board’s desire in sustaining the media stakeholders workshop as well as to leverage on its existing cordial relationships with other entities in the discharge of its functions inline with enabling laws, establishing the NCDMB.
He said: “The Nigerian oil and gas industry Content Development act(NOGICD) Act recognizes the critical importance of public engagement, media, and communication. In sections 67 and 70(n), the NOGICD act mandates the board to continually organize events and undertake public enlightenment activities to enhance the attainment of the goal of developing Nigerian content.
“Our collaboration and stakeholders engagements constitutes one of the four enablers of the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap and we also have five key pillars. We’re happy to report that we’ve recorded huge achievements in the implementation of this roadmap since we launched in 2017 when Nigerian Content performance was at 26 percent.
“Just last week at the practical Nigerian Content conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, our Executive Secretary, Eng. Simbi Kesiye Wabote announced that the Nigerian content performance for 2022 has increased to 54 percent, surpassing the 42 percent that was set for this year. Our statistics also reveal that the average Nigerian content performance in the last five years is 44 percent, which is also beyond the set target.
“We deliberately chose the topic, ‘Enhancing Media Competencies to Support Nigerian Content in a Gas Economy’ because we want the media to give adequate attention to the Federal government’s aspirations in the gas sector and the efforts by the NCDMB and other entities to support Government’s objectives.”
Similarly, while delivering a lecture with the title, ‘sustained and representative reporting in the oil and gas industry’, guest lecturer and frontline communication expert, Mr Chido Nwakanma has tasked Journalists on objective, balanced and adequate reportage of the oil and gas sector.
He stated that the sector is vast, hence media practitioners desirous of taking beats in the sector should have up-to-date knowledge and analysis of trends in the sector, describing the media as an inevitable partner in the development and reportage of the activities of the NCDMB and other sister oil and gas related agencies and parastatals across the nation.
Highpoints of the event were the presentation of key milestones on the Nigerian Content human capacity development programme by the General Manager, Capacity building division of the NCDMB, Dr Ama Ikuru, as well as engagement of participants in an ‘ice breaker moment’ on some activities of the board and acronyms used in the oil and gas sector by the Manager, Corporate Communications division of the NCDMB, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, respectively.
