By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

Yenagoa, Nigeria — The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has called for a strategic shift from basic compliance to mastery in local content development, aiming to position Africa as an industrial powerhouse.

Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Ogbe, represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, emphasized the importance of competence, capacity utilization, and collaboration to drive industrial growth across the continent.

Ogbe described the “Local Content Beyond Compliance” initiative as more than an energy agenda, framing it as a development strategy to promote African industrial capacity. He said: “For Africa to become an industrial powerhouse, we must collectively embrace talent development, process excellence, research and development, modern manufacturing capabilities, and cross-border trade in goods and services.”

He highlighted NCDMB’s achievements, including the development of indigenous technologies, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and fostering a resilient supply chain. Nigerian companies have supplied cables, fabricated equipment, and provided specialized services to the oil and gas sector.

Ogbe noted that the board has trained over 10,000 youths in high-demand skills such as geosciences, subsea engineering, and digitalization. He also cited the Executive Order on local content as a key measure to boost local capacity and attract investment in gas and deepwater projects.

Highlighting regional collaboration, Ogbe referred to the Brazzaville Accord, which promotes a unified industrial framework across African markets. He also welcomed the African Energy Bank, which aims to provide competitive financing for local companies.

“The summit’s theme, ‘Local Content Beyond Compliance: Building African Industrial Powerhouses,’ aligns with Africa’s vision for sustainable development and industrialization. Initiatives like this will play a pivotal role in shaping the continent’s future,” he concluded.