The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) hosted an interactive session with student union leaders from tertiary institutions in Bayelsa State at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa to raise awareness about the Board’s vision, mandate, and projects, while highlighting the role of students in the sustainable development of society.
Student leaders from institutions including Bayelsa Medical University, Federal University Otuoke, and the University of Africa, among others, attended the session. Addressing the students on “The Role of the Student Community in the Sustainable Development of Bayelsa State,” the General Manager of Human Capital Development emphasised the importance of knowledge, personal sacrifice, resilience, determination, and focus. Drawing lessons from leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malala Yousafzai, he encouraged students to be instruments of positive change in their state and the country.
He highlighted the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad, a nationwide competition promoting innovation, engineering, and entrepreneurship for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, urging participation to test skills and develop solutions to societal challenges. Scheduled to run for eight months, with an application deadline of 11th January 2026, the programme aims to strengthen problem-solving, technical expertise, and business development, offering prizes comparable to Nigeria’s leading reality TV shows.
The Board is also planning industrial training placements for tertiary students with service companies in the oil and gas sector, as well as a three-year internship for young graduates in partnership with industry players. Complementary programmes, such as the Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training, are designed to train thousands of graduates in high-demand skills, preparing a workforce for upcoming large-scale projects.
The General Manager of Corporate Communications explained that prior to the NOGICD Act of 2010, the oil and gas sector faced significant capital flight and limited opportunities for Nigerians. The Act established NCDMB to develop the capacity of the local supply chain and promote industrialisation within the oil and gas sector and its related industries. He stressed the importance of students understanding the industry, local content, and their role in attracting investments to Bayelsa.
The Board has been instrumental in the state’s economic development through projects such as the 17-storey Nigerian Content Tower, the NCDMB Conference Hotel, the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme for local manufacturing, and a 10-megawatt thermal power plant supplying electricity to government and industrial facilities. Plans are also underway for the Brass Shipyard to support the NLNG Train-7 Project.
Students engaged the Board on issues including registration in the NOGIC Joint Qualification System, opportunities for non-engineering graduates, departmental structure, and infrastructure concerns such as access roads to the Oloibiri Museum. The Board encouraged dialogue with companies and advised against disruptive actions that could deter investors.
In closing, students were reminded to pursue broad knowledge and practical expertise, equipping themselves to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development of Bayelsa State and Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
