NCDMB unveils criteria for maiden Nigerian content awards

By Tapre Timine, Bayelsa

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced the selection criteria for the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Awards, set to take place on May 21, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In collaboration with Sweetcrude Limited, the awards aim to recognise individuals and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to Nigerian Content development in the oil and gas industry in 2024.

The award ceremony will be held at the NCDMB Conference Hall and will coincide with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), an event showcasing investment prospects in the sector.

Twelve categories have been established to honour achievements across various segments of the industry, including Nigerian Content Icon of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and International and Independent Upstream Operators of the Year.

The Board will evaluate nominees based on objective and verifiable performance indicators, such as crude oil and gas production volumes, compliance with approved Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs), and adherence to statutory reporting requirements.

To ensure transparency and credibility, the Board has formed an Advisory Committee comprising respected industry professionals to oversee the nominations and validation process. The committee includes Dr Ernest Nwapa, Dr Omar Farouk, and Mr Wole Akinyosoye.

NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the initiative as a landmark effort to celebrate excellence and promote deeper commitment to local content development.

“This recognition is reserved for those who have gone beyond compliance to drive tangible growth in Nigerian Content,” Ogbe said.

The awards are expected to become a flagship recognition platform within Nigeria’s energy sector and a key feature of the biennial NOGOF events.