NCDMB officials at Day 2 of the conference in Takoradi, Ghana.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has awarded scholarships and cash prizes to 500 students in Bayelsa State under its Cradle-to-Career Initiative, in a renewed effort to promote academic excellence and expand access to quality education.
The awards, presented at the Bayelsa edition of the initiative in Yenagoa, covered pupils and students across primary, junior and senior secondary schools, as well as candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The beneficiaries comprised 100 primary school pupils, 100 junior secondary school students, 150 senior secondary school students and 150 UTME candidates, who received cash prizes and educational materials in recognition of their academic performance and as support for their educational pursuits.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, at the event, the Manager, Infrastructure and Economic Development (IRED), Engr. James Eyiteigha, urged the beneficiaries to regard the recognition as a springboard for greater achievements rather than an end in itself.
He stressed the need for young people to prepare early for the opportunities and responsibilities ahead, noting that the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.
Eyiteigha encouraged the students to remain focused on their studies, sustain their commitment to excellence and make productive use of the opportunities provided by the Board.
The Cradle-to-Career Initiative is part of NCDMB’s efforts to promote educational development and invest in the intellectual capacity of young Nigerians, particularly in oil-producing communities.
Through the programme, the Board seeks to encourage a culture of academic excellence while supporting young people at different stages of their educational journey, from primary education to preparation for tertiary studies.
The scholarship intervention also underscores the importance of investing in human capital as a critical component of Nigeria’s local content development agenda.
NCDMB’s commitment to education and capacity development was also reflected in its participation in the 2026 Local Content Conference and Exhibition in Takoradi, Ghana, where the Board shared Nigeria’s experience in developing local capacity in the oil and gas industry.
In a goodwill message delivered by the General Manager, Human Capital Development, Ms Alexis Emelle, the Executive Secretary reaffirmed the Board’s readiness to support the growth of Ghana’s oil and gas industry, particularly in strengthening its local content performance.
He urged participating African countries to draw lessons from Nigeria’s local content journey, including its successes and challenges, as they develop their respective capacities.
He also called for stronger collaboration among African oil-producing countries to promote continent-wide local content development.
At the conference, Emelle presented a paper on From Training to Transformation: Developing Sustainable Competency Frameworks for the Oil and Gas Workforce during the In-Country Value Addition, Capacity Building and Innovation Forum. She also participated in a panel discussion on the subject.
The General Manager, Upstream PCAD, Mr Jefferson Tuatongha, equally participated in a panel session on Preparing Local Companies for Global Competitiveness: Beyond Compliance to Capability Development.
Similarly, the General Manager, Zonal Coordination, Mr Ifeanyi Ukoha, joined discussions at the Gas Monetisation and Value Chain Linkages Forum on Strengthening Linkage Opportunities for Indigenous Companies in the Oil and Gas Value Chain.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, also visited the NCDMB exhibition stand during the conference.
Other members of the Board’s delegation included the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Silas Ajimijaye, and the General Manager, Downstream PCAD, Tassalah Tesurgh.
The Board’s interventions in education and professional capacity development reflect its broader commitment to building the skilled workforce and indigenous capabilities required to sustain the growth of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
