The Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) organized an awareness workshop for the Bayelsa State Judiciary on the 27^th of April 2022 at NCDMB Building. The theme of the workshop was Philosophy and the Imperative of the NOGICD Act.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote in his welcome address gave an overview of the journey before the enactment of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 (NOGICD Act). He also gave an insight on the NOGICD Act by talking briefly on some sections of the Act, these sections includes sections 1, 12, 20, 21, 22, 28, 70 & 104. He talked about the phases of implementation of the Act, the achievements of Nigerian Content which includes the 10mln training man-hours (over 7000 trainees), $350million funding, 40% of marine vessels, just to mention a few, he also talked about the Intervention funds and the Nigerian Content Research & Development Fund.

The workshop had three technical sessions and the lead presenters were the Chief Judge of Bayelsa, Hon. Justice Kate Abiri CON, who spoke on the Roles of the Court in attaining the Objectives of the NOGICD Act 2010, the Head of Legal Services NCDMB, Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, spoke on the Legal Framework for the Local Content Implementation in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas industry and Hon. Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, Judge of National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt spoke on Partnering with the Bench for Effective Implementation and Enforcement of the NOGICD Act.

In their contributions, Mr. Patrick Obah, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Akintunde Adelana, Director Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), represented by Alexis Emelle, Manager, M&E, Mr. Isaac Yalah, Director, Finance and Personnel Manager, represented by Ifeanyi Ukoha, Manager Finance & Account Department, and Mr. Amah Ikuru, General Manager, Capacity Building Division, all from NCDMB delivered papers on Issues and Challenges of EQ and R&D implementation in the Oil and Gas industry, the Twelve Years Local Content Implementation Lessons & Challenges, Nigerian Content Intervention Fund- Lessons Learnt & Challenges and Capacity Building Initiatives: Achievements and Challenges, respectively.

The workshop ended with a panel session on “Challenges of Enforcing Breaches of the NOGICD Act: The Roles of the Bar and the Bench” between Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Prof. Solomon Ebobra, NDU, Inemeist Dike Esq., Kelvin Ejelonu Esq. and Hon. Justice Madugu with Dr. Subai as moderator.

The E-libaray for Bayelsa State Judiciary situated in High Court Complex, funded and donated by NCDMB was commissioned. The commissioning was done by the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, CON. with NCDMB management and Stakeholders in attendance.

-Thywill U. Davies

Media Officer