Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has reiterated its commitment to building human capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors, using education and knowledge-sharing as strategic drivers.
Speaking at the second edition of the Board’s Book Reading Series, hosted today at the Nigerian Content Tower in Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, stressed that the Board is investing in education as a foundation for sustainable local content growth.
“Our interventions go beyond the oil and gas industry into its linkage sectors. Education is a key focus area for us. This is why we have established Centres of Excellence in universities across the country and consistently sponsored Essay and Quiz competitions in secondary schools and higher institutions,” Dr. Ezeobi stated.
According to Ezeobi, the Book Reading Series forms part of NCDMB’s broader strategy to enhance capacity development and foster innovation through cross-sectoral learning.
The event featured veteran journalist and award-winning author, Mr. Dayo Oketola, who read excerpts from his publication, The Catalyst: Nigerian Tech Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens.
His presentation, which chronicled Nigeria’s technology growth trajectory, drew parallels between journalism, knowledge transfer, and the need for continuous innovation in critical sectors.
The session also featured spoken word performances, adding a creative dimension to the programme and reinforcing the importance of the arts in shaping discourse around industry and society.
Participants commended NCDMB for creating a platform that goes beyond technical oil and gas discourse to embrace intellectual and cultural development, noting that such initiatives are essential for building a more holistic workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s industrial growth.
