By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

The 2026 edition of NOG Energy Week opened on Monday in Abuja with a strong focus on deepening local content, as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) declared that Nigerian participation in the nation’s oil and gas industry has increased from less than five per cent to 61 per cent over the past 15 years.

The week-long energy conference commenced with the Nigerian Content Seminar, bringing together policymakers, regulators, international energy leaders, investors, operators and service providers from across Africa to chart the next phase of local content development.

Delivering the keynote address on the theme,
“Shaping the Next Phase of Local Content Growth,” the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, said the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act has transformed indigenous participation in the sector.

“We have transformed local content in the oil and gas industry from marginal levels of less than five per cent to 61 per cent of Nigerian content and services,” he said.

According to him, the next phase of Nigerian content development must move beyond compliance with regulations to expanding industrial capacity, increasing manufacturing capabilities and positioning indigenous companies to benefit from the growing investments in the energy sector.

He noted that although Nigeria has built significant capacity across the oil and gas value chain, many local manufacturers still operate below capacity because of limited market access, technological constraints and inadequate financing.

He stressed that the Board remains committed to creating a transparent regulatory environment by providing industry stakeholders with greater clarity on its processes, approvals and certification procedures through the annual seminar.

The NCDMB also highlighted several reforms introduced over the past year, including the deployment of digital approval platforms, improved certification processes, dedicated escalation channels for stakeholders and the ongoing implementation of the Presidential Directives on Local Content and Cost Efficiency.

The Board disclosed that it is developing a comprehensive industry capacity database to identify existing capabilities, guide investment decisions and support the execution of major capital projects, including deep water developments and gas infrastructure projects.

The Executive Secretary emphasized that faster project approvals and increased investments remain critical to sustaining local manufacturing, creating jobs and expanding indigenous participation.

“Manufacturing cannot thrive without projects. Every new field development, gas processing plant, pipeline, refinery expansion and infrastructure project creates opportunities for Nigerian businesses and communities,” he said.

He reiterated that the Board’s mandate is to enable business growth rather than create unnecessary bottlenecks, describing the NCDMB as a development-focused regulator committed to supporting indigenous enterprises.

In her opening remarks, the organisers, DMG Events, urged stakeholders to sustain investments in technology, innovation and human capital development to ensure Nigerian companies remain globally competitive.

The organisers said the industry must move beyond assembly and contract allocation towards research, engineering, technology development and innovation while creating opportunities for Nigerian professionals to build successful careers at home.

A high-level panel session on “Building Africa’s Local Content Alliance: Progress, Gaps and Opportunities” featured leading industry figures from across the continent.

Panellists included Maggy Shino, Director of Petroleum Upstream, Office of the President of Namibia; Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, Chairman of PETAN; and Ibrahim Talla, Executive Secretary of the African Local Content Association (ALCA).

The speakers acknowledged significant progress made by African countries in strengthening local participation in the energy industry but stressed that greater collaboration is required to unlock the continent’s enormous energy potential.

They agreed that every African nation has a critical role to play in building a stronger regional energy ecosystem.

Another major highlight of the opening day was a panel discussion on “Emerging Leaders: Shaping the Future of Energy.”

The session featured Ikhuoria Aimienwanhu of NCDMB, Yinka Atunde, CEO of Yikodeen Company Limited, Bashir Ahmed of NCDMB, Engr. Yetunde Aladeitan, National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE), and God’slove Chinyere Oliver of NNPCL.

The panellists stressed the importance of nurturing young professionals, strengthening technical competencies and creating an enabling environment for innovation to achieve the Federal Government’s ambitious energy production targets by 2030.

They emphasized that future leadership must prioritize industry-ready skills, international certifications, digital competencies and continuous professional development rather than focusing solely on academic qualifications.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) also featured prominently during discussions, with

speakers encouraging energy professionals to embrace emerging technologies to improve productivity, analyse industry data more efficiently and support better decision-making.

Representatives of NNPCL at the penal sessions highlighted the company’s commitment to empowering young professionals by giving them leadership opportunities and involving them in strategic national projects.

As NOG Energy Week 2026 continues, discussions are expected to focus on investment, gas development, energy transition, offshore opportunities, manufacturing, local capacity expansion and regional collaboration aimed at positioning Africa as a major global energy hub.

The opening day concluded with a strong message that sustaining project development, accelerating investments and empowering the next generation of energy professionals will be crucial to advancing Nigeria’s local content achievements and unlocking Africa’s vast energy potential.