The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has been named Government Partner of the Year by the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria at its 4th Annual Human Capital Development Awards 2025 in Lagos. The award was received at an event on Friday by Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
In his acceptance speech at the event themed ‘Indigenous Excellence and Human Capital: Partners for the Future of Energy’, Ogbe described the recognition as a tribute to the Board’s partners, stakeholders and Nigerians who share the vision that human capital is the most valuable resource for industrial growth.
“This honour is not just a recognition of NCDMB as an institution; it is a celebration of the vision, resilience and collective efforts of all our partners, stakeholders and indeed every Nigerian who believes in the power of human capital to transform industries and nations,” Ogbe said.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the General Manager, Human Capital Development, Esueme Dan Kikile stressed that infrastructure and technology could not replace people, whom he described as the true drivers of productivity, innovation and economic sustainability.
He outlined NCDMB’s achievements in capacity building, including over 10 million training man-hours delivered to more than 9,000 Nigerians across various technical areas critical to the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the Board ensures that every project includes structured training programmes that directly enhance workforce competence.
To further strengthen its interventions, Kikile announced two upcoming initiatives, including Nigerian Content Trainers Registration Certification, aimed at standardising training facilities and faculties while eliminating unqualified trainers; the Top Ten/Top Twenty Skills Gap Programme, a focused training approach to close critical skill gaps required in the short, medium and long term.
“Training will no longer be for the sake of training; it will be strategically aligned to industry needs,” he assured.
Kikile referenced initiatives such as the ‘Back to the Creeks Programme’, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by reorienting Niger Delta adolescents and equipping them with employable skills, as well as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System, which connects Nigerian professionals and businesses to opportunities through a robust skills database.
He commended OGTAN for advancing professional training in the energy industry, recalling that the association was established in 2010 under NCDMB’s guidance as an outsourced human capacity development initiative. Ogbe reaffirmed the Board’s determination to continue prioritising human capital development, not only for oil and gas but also for emerging areas such as renewables, gas monetisation and digital energy solutions.
“Your dedication to building industry-ready professionals has been invaluable and this award is as much a tribute to your efforts as it is to ours,” he added. “Together, we will continue to equip Nigerians with the skills, knowledge and confidence required in shaping Africa’s energy future.”
In his welcome address, OGTAN President, Chris Osarumwense underscored that “human capacity development remains the backbone of Nigeria’s energy future”.
Also speaking, OGTAN’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Sam Onyechi, highlighted the pivotal role NCDMB played in the establishment of OGTAN in 2010, noting that the association had since evolved into Nigeria’s foremost human capacity development body in oil and gas, with aspirations to become a continental brand.
He remarked that the recognition of NCDMB at the awards was fitting, given its consistent support for programmes that bridge critical skill gaps and raise the standard of indigenous training.
Former OGTAN President, Dr Mayowa Afe, in his goodwill remarks, urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum in people-driven initiatives. He aligned with the Executive Secretary’s assertion that the industry’s greatest asset is its people.
“Like the NCDMB Executive Secretary said, we are building people who are going to build this industry,” he stated, urging players in the sector to view training not as a cost but as an investment that pays long-term dividends for businesses and the economy.
Afe said the industry must ensure continuity in these interventions so that Nigeria can build a generation of highly skilled professionals capable of shaping Africa’s energy future
