NCDMB sensitizes Bayelsa youths on Nigerian Content

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has organised a one-day sensitization and enlightenment workshop for youths from Ogbia Local Government of Bayelsa State on the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act.

The event which was held on Tuesday at Utuoke town hall in Ogbia Local Government Area was aimed at educating the youths on the operations of the oil and gas industry and how the provisions of the Nigerian Content Act can help them participate effectively in the industry.

Giving a welcome address, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Patrick Daziba Obah explained that the event was conceived to educate indigenes of the local government on the mandate of the Board, its activities and human capacity development programmes it had embarked upon.

Explaining that the Board’s vision is to empower Nigerian youths through the Nigerian Content Act, the Acting Executive Secretary harped on the need for youths to acquire relevant skills and proficiencies sought after in the oil and gas industry as well as acquaint themselves with  how host communities and youths can support and benefit maximally from oil industry operations.

Mr. Obah, who was represented by the General Manager, Zonal Coordination and Board Projects, Dr. Ginah.O.Ginah clarified that Nigerian Content was focused on domiciling work in-country and developing local capacity with the associated benefits, stressing that it was not out to indigenize operations of the industry.

Speaking further, he stated that thousands of Nigerians would be trained and employed through the Board’s implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS), the Pipemill project at Polaku in Bayelsa State and the Board’s 17-storey building project.

Ginah assured that these initiatives would bring growth and development in the Ogbia community, Bayelsa State and the country in general and create opportunities for employments, contracts and funding schemes for Small and Medium Enterprises.

Other discussants at the event charged Ogbia youths to desist from coercing operating and service companies to employ them or hand out cash but rather they should channel their complaints through the Board which has the mandate to mediate in such matters.

Participants in the event were drawn from different communities in Ogbia Local Government.