A second-year student of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Enomfon Akpan has emerged as the winner of the 5th edition of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Annual National Undergraduate Essay competition. He received the star prize of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) and laptop at the award ceremony held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
The essay by the 23-year-old was adjudged the best amongst over 2000 entries submitted by undergraduates who must be within their first and 2nd year in the university.
The topic for this year’s essay contest was “Ten Year of Local Content Implementation in Nigeria: Success, Challenges and the imperative of expanding beyond the oil and gas.”
Mr. Michael William, a 200-level Medical student, University of Lagos, Lagos State emerged the first runner up and won a cash prize of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N700,000.00), while Mr. Godstime Nwaeze, a 200-level law student of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Akwa, Anambra State placed third and won a cash prize of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00).
All the top ten finalists received HP laptops as part of their prizes.
In his keynote address at the event, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote disclosed that the competition was geared towards developing human and material capacities, which is one of the key mandates of the Board. He explained that the Board sponsored the contest to create local content awareness among our vibrant youths and make them advocates of Nigerian Content, which is critical to sustainable development of our local economy, job creation and national security.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Manager, Corporate Communication, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh revealed that the Board fully understood the importance of making men and women champions of local content as this will guaranty the sustenance of local content policy as an imperative for sustainable development of our economy.
While congratulating the finalists for their hard work and dedication, he charged that the students to remain diligent in their studies and continue to hunger for new knowledge.
The chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Bayelsa State, Prof Kingston Nyamafene applauded the foresight of the Board in looking beyond the oil and gas sector and also promoting educational development amongst the young one.
He mentioned that capacity building is the bedrock of development of the country and national competitions such as this helps to foster national unification and boost academic excellence.
In his remarks, the Royal Father of the day, HRH thhe Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo applauded the Board for keeping up to the mandate of developing indigenous capacity and developing a programme that targets students in tertiary institutions.
In his comments, the star prize winner, Mr. Enomfon Akpan appreciated the Board for the opportunity given to Nigerian youths, noting that the exercise has improved his understanding of local content in the oil and gas industry.
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