The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has begun a five-day knowledge sharing programme with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana in Lagos on Monday.
In a statement sent to journalists on Monday, the NCDMB hinted that the programme is in line with its long-standing support to African oil and gas producing countries and development of local content in the continent.
The board stated that the engagement with the Ghanaian agency follows similar sessions it has had with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and Mozambique’s national oil company, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), earlier this year.
The statement further noted that “the engagement seeks to establish technical cooperation between the NCDMB and the Ghanaian Commission through capacity building and learning from the Board’s rich experiences, best practices and procedures in local content development.
“Part of the objectives are to foster the Petroleum Commission of Ghana’s efforts to institute an effective framework that will enhance compliance and deepen local content in their nation’s oil and gas industry.”
In his opening remarks, NCDMB’s Director Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, emphasized the need for close cooperation among African oil-producing countries.
He noted that the technological and financial challenges facing the industry cannot be solved when countries operate in silos.
He canvassed that African oil-producing countries should develop unique and specialized capabilities that would facilitate effective trade amongst themselves and grow the African economy, as envisaged by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCTA).
Other key officials who spoke during the programme shared NCDMB’s strategies and operating templates covering supplier development initiatives, Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) and the structure and operations of the agency.
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that presentations in the later days of the week would focus on the operating framework for Nigerian Content planning, research and statistics, succession planning processes, Nigerian Joint Qualification System (NJQS), Biometrics system, human capacity building, institutional strengthening, Nigerian Content Equipment Certification (NCEC) and other templates.
Other themes that would be explored as part of the engagement include the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) operating framework, the Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD) templates and implementing framework, the Monitoring and Evaluation implementing framework and the Community Content Guidelines and Stakeholder Management strategies and many more.
The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Project 100 companies and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), which is the umbrella body of leading international and indigenous oil companies in Nigeria would equally make presentations at the sessions.
It was further gathered that the engagement would end on Friday with NCDMB and the commission reviewing a draft memorandum of understanding and protocols for data sharing.
