The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled the winners of its annual national undergraduate essay competition.
The winners of the competition which focused on “Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development” were unveiled at a colourful ceremony which took place at NCDMB Conference Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently.
The coveted prize of N1 million, a brand-new laptop and a plaque was won by Mr. Wisdom David Fabunmi, a 200-level Physiotherapy student of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State who emerged as overall winner while the second prize of N700, 000, laptop and plaque was won by Ms. Joy Oghogho Enogieru, a 100-level Doctor of Optometry student of the University of Benin, Edo State. The third prize of N500, 000, laptop and a plaque was won by Mr. Ahmadu Kodan Yusuf, a 100-level Law student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State.
Maritime Bits checks revealed no fewer than 5,000 entries from 52 universities across the six geopolitical zones of the country were submitted for the competition. NCDMB also made provisions for consolation prizes including the 4th to 9th place winners.
Apparently pleased with the outcome of the competition, the management of NCDMB said the competition underscored the strategic importance of youth development and local manufacturing in promoting sustainable local content and building a resilient economy.
NCDMB noted that the competition which is its 10th edition has become an important platform for promoting research, analytical thinking, effective communication and intellectual engagement among undergraduates.
Speaking at the grand finale of the award and prize-giving ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe stated that the competition is particularly important to the Board because it contributes to the realization of its mandate which centres on development of human and material capacity and monitoring of compliance by players in the oil and gas industry.
Ogbe who was represented at the event by NCDMB General Manager, Corporate Communications Division (CCD), Dr. Obinna Ezeobi explained that the Board discharges its capacity building mandate through various programmes such as direct intervention trainings for graduates and artisans in technical and non-technical skills as well as project-based human capital development, which entails on-the-job trainings on live projects as required by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
He pointed out that universities are institutions where ideas should be developed, problems examined, innovations encouraged and solutions created for the advancement of the society, hence the Board undertook to engage students and encourage them to think critically and write about Nigerian Content.
According to the NCDMB helmsman, the ideas, commitment and ingenuity of youths were crucial to the future of Nigerian local content.
He stated that the annual undergraduate essay competition is connected to several other interventions the Board has for youths in higher institutions, such as the Research Centres of Excellence in Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State; University of Port Harcourt, Choba; University of Ibadan, Ibadan, and Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
He also listed the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), to inspire innovation among engineering students, with the maiden edition concluded in July 2026.
Other initiatives of NCDMB targeted at youths include specialized training programmes like Nigerian Oil and Gas Readiness Training, where 10,000 young Nigerians are being trained in the 10 top skills needed in the emerging new projects being developed by the industry, and the Catch-the-Researcher-Young Programme (CRYP), a digital research capacity development initiative designed to equip undergraduate students with modern technology skills, advanced research methods, and industry-relevant digital competencies.
He noted that the focus of this year’s essay competition on promoting manufacturing for sustainable local content development is intended to challenge participants to examine how Nigeria can strengthen its productive capacity and create greater economic value.
Ogbe emphasized the bedrock of sustainable local content development just as he pointed out that the NCDMB established the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) “to incubate the manufacturing of components used by the oil and gas industry.”
His words: “It is also the reason we implement a policy known as Nigerian Content Equipment Commitment (NCEC) which compels companies to show proof that they manufacture components and have capacity to execute key activities before they get contract opportunities in the oil and gas industry.”
The programme consultant, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi had earlier in his opening remarks said the award and prize-giving ceremony was a celebration of “a decade of investment in ideas by the NCDMB.”
Omorozi who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited expressed satisfaction with the output of the participants in the competition.
According to him, from the essays of these young men and women, you can just tell that the future is very bright. NCDMB is not just building facilities and monitoring compliance, it is also building minds.
The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Promise Mebine in his opening remarks, congratulated the NCDMB on its successful hosting and sponsorship of the competition and for staying faithful to the vision.
Continuing, Mebine who is the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State said: “Year after year, you have proven that building Nigerian Content is not only about pipelines and platforms, but about building people, particularly our youths, the leaders of tomorrow.”
Speaking to the winners, he said: “Your prize today is well-deserved but the real prize is not the cheque or the plaque. The real prize is that NCDMB has now opened a door for you. Walk through it!”
He enjoined the other contestants not see themselves as losers. “You are not losers. Every essay you submitted is a seed. You have trained your mind to think. You have trained your hand to write. Keep writing; keep researching; keep believing in Nigeria; Next year, the podium may be yours.”
In his goodwill message, NCDMB Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED) Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile commended Ogbe, the Corporate Communications Division and Omorozi for all the efforts toward sustenance of the competition, which he noted has been immensely beneficial to the Board and participants.
