- Former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan emerges Winner, Lifetime Achievement Award
- Shell, Thisday, Daewoo, NLNG, Dangote, others show up as winners
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in collaboration with Sweetcrude Limited, has inaugurated the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards to honour companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to local content development in the country’s oil and gas sector.
The inaugural ceremony, which took place at the NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa State on Wednesday, also marked the 15th anniversary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, a landmark legislation aimed at deepening Nigerian participation in the sector.
Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stated that the awards were timely and essential in reinforcing the importance of local content compliance.
“The time has come to identify and celebrate pillars of Nigerian Content who shall serve as a shining example of what is expected of others in the industry,” Ogbe declared.
The awards span 12 categories, including Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year, Independent Upstream Operator, Midstream Operator, Downstream Operator, Financial Services Provider, Indigenous and International Service Companies, Media Organization, Icon of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Innovator of the Year, and Women in Leadership for promoting female empowerment in the sector.
According to Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at NCDMB, the long-anticipated award is meant to reward excellence and compliance in Nigerian Content.
“The Board had mulled this event for a few years, and the launch signifies NCDMB’s conviction that companies and individuals who extend themselves to develop Nigerian Content and comply with extant regulations, should be identified by the regulator and celebrated, to serve as a beacon of motivation for other industry players,” Halilu said.
In addition to plaques for winners, the Board has created a Wall of Fame at the Nigerian Content Tower. Names of winners in both the corporate and individual categories will be displayed there for two years. Seminar and breakout rooms will also be named in their honour, while individual winners will enjoy complimentary access to key NCDMB events for one year.
Ogbe further revealed that the selection process was transparent and backed by rigorous metrics such as NC Performance Reports, Procurement Reports, NCDF Remittance, R&D efforts, and Marine Vessel Utilisation.
“With an awards Advisory Board made up of members with huge industry experience, knowledge and impeccable integrity, Champions of Nigerian Content Awards is, indeed, recognition that is incomparable,” he noted.
Cross-section of winners
- Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Winner – Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award
- Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) now known as Renaissance won the Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the year
- Aradel Holdings won the Independent Upstream Operator of the year
- Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) won the midstream Operator of the year award.
- Bank of Industry was announced as the winner of the Financial Service Provider of the year;
- Dangote Refinery won the downstream Operator of the year;
- Dorman Long won the indigenous service company of the year.
- Daewoo/Halliburton won the international service company of the year; and
- Thisday newspaper – The Nigerian Content Media Organisation of The Year Award.
- Tony Attah – MD of Renaissance Energy as Winner, Nigerian Content Icon of the Year
- Iroghama Ogbeifun – Winner, Women in Leadership Award
- TechnipFMC – Winner, Nigerian Content International Service Company Award
The celebration was rounded off with a colourful gala night that featured traditional dancers, music artists, and a live band entertaining guests with a blend of cultural and contemporary performances.
The Champions of Nigerian Content Awards is expected to become a recurring initiative, reinforcing the NCDMB’s commitment to fostering local expertise, capacity, and innovation in Nigeria’s vital oil and gas sector.
