By Kunle SHONUGA
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NDCMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, has said that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2019 will boost local content penetration in the country.
The NCDMB boss disclosed this at a press conference on the upcoming NOGOF 2019 with the theme ‘‘Maximizing Investments into the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry for the Benefit of the Nigerian People’’ held in Lagos, last Thursday.
Wabote explained that one of the key objectives of NOGOF is to bring together governments, national oil companies, investors, corporate players and independents in order to give them a unique space within the country to network, discuss and share knowledge.
According to him, the potential benefits of NOGOF 2019 which holds from April 4 to 5, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, includes; integrating oil producing communities into the oil and gas value chain, fostering institutional collaboration, maximizing participation of Nigerians in oil and gas activities, linking oil and gas sector to other sectors of the economy and maximizing utilization of Nigerian resources.
Wabote said NOGOF which is hosted by NCDMB and organized by Jake Riley Limited is another milestone achieved by the Board, adding that, it is uncommon to find major players in the sector and beyond gather in the same room in support of Nigerian Content.
‘‘It is with great pride that we are able to bring together major players across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry as well as Government agencies, industry regulators and the National Assembly to showcase opportunities in this industry and present available in-country to all stakeholders in attendance,’’ he said.
He maintained that since the inception of NCDMB, the board has been committed to promoting and building local capabilities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, stating that the enforcement of the provisions of the local content act in the oil and gas industry has also led to some key achievements for the Board.
The fair, he said, attracts the highest quality speakers as the sessions are led by leaders of industry, Ministers, head of Nigeria Oil Companies (NOCs), leading geoscientists and CEOs from major local and international oil and gas companies while the agenda includes technical and opportunity sessions from various stakeholders.
