By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Thursday, urged journalists to help Anambra residents explore opportunities in oil and gas sectors for socioeconomic development.
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, made the call at Nigerian content capacity building workshop for media stakeholders in Awka, Anambra State capital, noting that the State as oil producing has enormous opportunities yet to be tapped by many due to probably being unreported or ignorance.
Some of them included competitions, awards and scholarships opportunities for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, investments, grants and businesses for parents, artisans, journalists, and other professionals in the host communities.
Ogbe, who spoke through the General Manager, Communications, NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, identified journalists as key stakeholder charged with the responsibility to hold operators in the oil and gas sectors accountable with a view to ensuring they comply with local content requirements.
"There are thousands of Nigerian service companies participating in the oil and gas value chain. There are also several issues in local content and the oil and gas industry that require attention, interventions that deserve explanation and opportunities that Nigerians need to know about. We want the media in Anambra State to hold operators accountable and help track compliance with Nigerian Content requirements.
He said "Nigerian Content is fundamentally about building strong human and material capacities and ensuring that the operations of the oil and gas industry are domiciled within Nigeria. Local Content creates meaningful opportunities for Nigerians to participate actively and competitively in the development of our oil and gas sector, and increasingly, in the broader national economy.
"We also ensure that indigenous businesses are equipped to deliver goods and services competitively, that Nigerian professionals acquire and apply the requisite technical competencies, and that our manufacturing and industrial capacities are strengthened and fully utilized across industry operations. Ultimately, it is about retaining greater value within the Nigerian economy by deepening local participation and expanding domestic productive capacity."
Also speaking, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, explained that the mandate of the board were to develop local capacities and capabilities, without compromising standards, monitor and enforce the provisions of the Act.
Earlier, Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, Dr Law Mefor, said the State was willing to partner with them to sensitise the residents on how to promote Nigerian contents in oil and gas and other sectors.
In a panel discussion, some media and communication experts, Mr Kingsley Jeremiah, Editor (Energy and Power), Guardian Newspaper; Dr Adeola Yusuf, the Publisher of Platforms Africa; and Dr Obinna Ezeobi, recommended some useful reporting strategies to be adopted by journalists to include human interest, story telling, multimedia adoption, among others.