By Michael Ovat -Awka
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has organized a one-day capacity-building workshop and stakeholder forums for media practitioners in Anambra State.
The training workshop that took place at the Golden Tulip hotel in Awka on Thursday, October 15th, 2026 aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of Anambra journalists on oil and gas reportage and to position themselves for opportunities within and outside the industry.
Speaking during his opening remark, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr Obinna Ezeobi, said the workshop is also to sensitize key publics on NCDMB’s mandate, programmes, various opportunities, as well as how they can contribute to the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
According to Ezeobi, “I am delighted to welcome you to the Nigerian Content Media Stakeholders Workshop for Editors and Journalists in Anambra State.
“This is the first edition being held in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria since we started this annual engagement in 2019, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
“This workshop is part of NCDMB’s Stakeholders Collaboration and Engagement Initiatives, through which our agency engages key stakeholders across our operating environment. Through such engagements, we sensitize key publics on NCDMB’s mandate, programmes, various opportunities, as well as how they can contribute to the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
“Anambra State became an important location to host this Nigerian Content Media Stakeholders Workshop because it is fully recognized as an oil and gas producing state.
“According to records, Anambra is the third highest oil producer in the Southeast, with an estimated production capacity of about 3,000 barrels per day.
“In addition, Anambra is home to some renowned oil and gas magnets and local content titans like Engr. Emeka Okwuosa of OilServ, Dr. Ernest Nnaemeka AzudialuObiejesi, founder of Nestoil Group and many other renowned oil serving companies.
“After the enactment of the NOGICD Act and establishment of NCDMB in 2010, the pioneer leadership recognised that the implementation of Nigerian Content would require the active collaboration and support of industry operators, government institutions, businesses, host communities, professionals, academia and, importantly, the media. Our agency has continued to take appropriate steps in this regard over the years.
“We also use this capacity building workshop to enhance the capacities of media professionals. We try to sharpen competencies and improve the quality of your reportage and practice, especially as it relates to local content and the oil and gas industry.
“We are interested in building the capacities of journalists because the NOGICD Act in sections 67 and 70(n) mandated NCDMB to deploy media and other forms of communication and stakeholder engagement to expand the development of Nigerian Content.
“Another reason is because NCDMB developed the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap in 2017 and identified five pillars and four enablers. Under the roadmap, our agency dedicated one of the enablers to Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement.
“This enabler underscored the importance of media and communication and close engagement with internal and external stakeholders towards the success of Nigerian Content Implementation.
“In this regard, NCDMB has always treated the media as partners and key stakeholders since the enactment of the NOGICD Act in 2010.
“We have collaborated closely with the media across key cities, because we fully appreciate that communication and effective engagement of stakeholders play critical roles in the success of any policy.
“In the past 16 years of NCDMB, the media has contributed significantly to propagating and advancing the Nigerian local content policy, making it a national agenda and influencing several African countries to adopt it.
“We currently have a significant share of voice in the media and that helped to position NCDMB to win awards as the best federal agency for four consecutive times in the ranking of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
“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.
“Over the years, NCDMB has developed and implemented several programmes and interventions aimed at achieving these objectives.
“The workshop is also to teach journalists on how they can write award winning stories and how to pursue a purpose-driven career. This is particularly important when reporting technical issues such as the oil and gas industry and Nigerian Content.
“It is therefore important that journalists in Anambra get fully abreast of the Nigerian Content law and NCDMB programmes, so they can expose Anambraians to the opportunities they can benefit from the implementation.
In conclusion, Ezeobi urged the media in Anambra state to promote local content activities so that Anambra indigenes can participate actively in the Nigerian content space and take advantage of the opportunities.
According to him, we also want media to understand local content sufficiently to report Nigerian Content issues with greater depth and context.
“We want to build a productive relationship with the media in Anambra State
“We also want the media in Anambra State to hold operators accountable and help track compliance with Nigerian Content requirements
“We again expect to see improved quality of reportage on the oil and gas industry and Nigerian Content.
While commending the State governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo for providing a conducive environment during the event, Ezeobi, urge all participants to take full advantage of the programme grow media-wise.
While declaring the event open, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mfor, promised to rely the workshop message to the governor.
The event also has in attendance the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Special Adviser to governor Soludo on Youth Reformation, Dr Nelson Obinna Omenugha, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, NCDMB, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, the General Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr. Ifeanyi Ukoha among thousands of media practitioners in Anambra State.
