2 weeks Ago By NewsDirect
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and his Gas counterpart, Rt. Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, have commended Dr Obinna Ezeobi, a senior official at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), for authoring a book that captures how strategic communication, robust stakeholder engagement, and effective collaboration have significantly advanced Nigeria’s local content agenda over the past 15 years.The book, Nigeria’s Local Content: A Journey of Strategic Communication and Economic Transformation, arrives as the oil and gas industry prepares to mark the 15th anniversary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Ezeobi’s work was warmly received by the current Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, who praised the author’s dedication and professionalism. Ogbe pledged the Board’s support by confirming that copies of the book would be procured for internal use and distribution.
Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Ogbe’s predecessor, also expressed his delight upon receiving his copy, applauding the effort to document a key pillar of Nigeria’s economic policy. He was joined in this praise by Mrs Olu Verheijen, Special Advisor to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Energy, who described the publication as timely and of high quality.
Endorsements for the book have poured in from across the continent. The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, not only endorsed the book but recommended it as essential reading for policymakers and proponents of local content across Africa. Dr Ernest Nwapa, the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, wrote the foreword, noting its value as a historical and strategic resource.
Emeka Ene, Chairman of Oildata Group and former Chair of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), also praised the book for capturing notable milestones in local content development.The 267-page publication is divided into five comprehensive sections. It spans the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the legislative and policy frameworks around local content, and the present-day challenges such as divestment trends and Presidential Directives.
It includes in-depth case studies, particularly on the implementation of the Nigerian Content 10-year strategic roadmap and related initiatives. These examples underscore the impact of strategic communication and stakeholder coordination in driving compliance and sustaining policy gains.The final chapter explores compliance and enforcement mechanisms, drawing on findings from an empirical study that examined how effective communication has shaped adherence to local content provisions by operators in the sector.
Reflecting on the motivation behind the book, Ezeobi explained that the Nigerian Content Act stands out as one of the most transformative laws passed since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. According to him, the success of the Act is closely linked to how the NCDMB and its partners harnessed the power of public communication and stakeholder alignment.Drawing from his media background, his career at the NCDMB, and doctoral research in energy communication, Ezeobi said he felt compelled to document Nigeria’s local content success story from a unique perspective—one that focuses on the often-underestimated role of communication strategy in public policy implementation.
The book is intended for a wide readership, including oil and gas professionals, regulators, communication specialists, development partners, academic researchers, community stakeholders, and historians interested in economic transformation through indigenous policy frameworks.The post Lokpobri, others endorse new book on local content appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..
