The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has pledged to continue to support media practitioners given the critical role they play in society.
Ogbe made the pledge during a workshop organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for media stakeholders in Bayelsa and Rivers States.
The event was held at the Sparklyn Hotel & Suite in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The workshop which was tagged “Role of Media and Communication in Sustaining the Tempo of Nigerian Content Development” sought to enhance the capacity of the media practitioners to effectively report Nigerian content initiatives.
Represented by the Board’s General Manager in charge of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, the NCDMB helmsman welcomed the stakeholders to the event, admonishing them to build capacity and reinvent themselves to be the best at what they do.
“Build your capacity and reinvent yourselves and be the best in whatever you are doing. You can be doing work here and win international awards.
“We will continue to support the media because of the critical role you are playing in society.”
Ogbe revealed that the board has made significant progress in local content implementation, boasting of 56% Nigerian content currently.
According to him, the target is to reach 70% in the year 2027, all things being equal.
Ogbe also harped on the board’s new initiative: ‘Back to the creeks initiative’ which he explained seeks to make rural people feel the impact of the oil and gas industry.
He assured that the NCDMB as part of the initiative will support far-reaching developmental projects in rural communities across the country, in partnership with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
He disclosed that the Board has a sum of N15billon in the BOI to award community contractors with soft loans to execute their jobs without relying on regular commercial banks.
The NCDMB boss however challenged the media to engage the board on the workability of the initiative.
“We hope and expect the media to interrogate us more and talk about this initiative. We are open to scrutiny from the media,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the workshop also featured two panel discussions.
The first panel discussion which was themed centered on the board’s efforts to enhance the progress made in the implementation of local content policies in the oil and gas sector.
The panelists were two senior staff of the board viz: Ms. Tassalla Tersugh and Engr. Bashir Ahmed.
The second panel session was themed: “Relevance in the Face of Changing Dynamics: How Can Media Practitioners Reinvent Themselves?”
The panel discussants included Dr. Oyindoubra Timi-Wood, Prof. Diri Teilanyo and Lekan Otufodunrin participated virtually.
The two panel discussions were moderated by Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, NCDMB’s Deputy Manager in charge of Media.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sam Dogitimi, one of the media stakeholders who attended the workshop, profusely commended the initiative of the NCDMB to organize the workshop which he said “is always impactful.”
He urged other government agencies to emulate the NCDMB in its inclusiveness and regular engagement of the media as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
