By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
A 16 year old 200 level student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ojedele Jesuferanmi Emmanuel has emerged as the winner of the 8th Award and Prize giving Ceremony of Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition, 2024.
Ojedele was declared the winner among ten national finalists in an event held at NCDMB, Tower, Oxbow Lake road, Swali, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Delivering a keynote address, Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engineer Felix Omatsola Ogbe noted that the NCDMB has sustained the essay competition for several years to inculcate the local content consciousness among undergraduates in higher institutions.
Engr. Ogbe who was represented by the General Manager Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination NCDMB Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile said, the sponsorship of the competition is in line with the board mandate, which is capacity-building and local content development.
“The NCDMB began to sponsor this competition because we understood the need to inculcate Local Content consciousness among undergraduates in our higher institutions, to make them understand that Local Content is an economic imperative for sustainable development of our local economy, creation of job opportunities and national security.
“Furthermore, the annual national undergraduates’ essay competition is one of NCDMB’s multiple interventions to lift the standard of education in Nigeria. It aims to promote proficiency in writing, awareness of local content and its benefit to the national economy, and to engender citizen engagement from undergraduate level.
“Through this programme, the Board seeks to promote liberal arts education, and the development of vital soft skills required in the workplace and business in the emerging digital world economy
“The programme will help to enhance effective communication, analytical and critical thinking skills as well as problem-solving abilities in our undergraduates. More specifically, we hope that this program will continue to generate interest and awareness about the criticality of Nigerian content law and philosophy in the oil and gas sector as a national economic agenda for job creation, poverty reduction, industrial development and inclusive economic growth. As a Board, we are committed to capacity development of Nigerians and the development of opportunities for our communities
“We have built a strong and reputable brand and every project we get involved in must be excellent, professional and world-class.
“The topic for this year is Nigerian Content and Opportunities in African Local Content Advancement. This is another well-conceived topic considering that most African countries are understudying Nigeria in the implementation of Local Content”.
“Our sponsorship of this competition is in line with our mandate which is capacity building and local content development, we have sponsored this for 8 years because of the huge importance we attach to education and intellectual development of young members of our society”
Chairman of the occasion, Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State Educational Development Trust Fund, Dr Mrs Alice Atuwo represented by Mrs Adombari Tawari congratulated all the finalists for their hard work and doggedness which made them part of the top ten finalists in the essay competition.
Mrs Tawari used the occasion to caution the youths particularly the undergraduates to resist all forms of distraction and focus on reading and studying inorder to achieve academic success.
In his welcome address, Chief Executive Officer, Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, Mr Eyinimi Omorozi pointed out that the competition is an academic exercise to create awareness for youths to use their talents and skills in local content participation.
“The competition promotes academic excellence, to help our youths develop themselves, build capacity and competence inorder to take advantage of the opportunities in the oil and gas industry in the country”
The winner, Ojedele Jesuferanmi Emmanuel expressed appreciation to God, his family and everyone who supported him.
He advised other undergraduates to make use of the opportunities given by NCDMB by submitting their entries for the essay competition.
