Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has rolled out the objectiveevaluation metricsthat will guide selection of corporate and individual entities for conferment with the Nigerian Content Awards scheduled to hold later in the month.

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According to a statement from the corporate communications unit of the industry value generation agency, the inaugural Champions of Nigerian Content Awards which is to be hosted in partnership with Sweetcrude Limited is designed to honor outstanding contributions to local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

To ensure credibility of the recognitions, the criteria for oil and gas operators are to include key and empirical benchmarks like the volumes of crude oil and gas production output, compliance to Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs) and Nigerian Content Compliance Certificates (NCCCs), and adherence to NOGICD Act reporting requirements such as submission of Nigerian Content Performance Reports and Employment and Training Plans.

The organizers declared in the statement that similar criteria would apply to financial institutions, media organizations, and individuals.

The adoption of selection and performance templates, according to the NCDMB, is to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process.

“Winners for the Nigerian Content Icon of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Women in Leadership Award will also be selected based on measurable performance indicators,” the organizers stated.

Scheduled for May 21, at the NCDMB Conference Hall in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the awards are conceived to recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing Nigerian Content in 2024.

The ceremony is also planned to be one of the key features of the 2025 edition of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF).

The organizers stated that the awards would further spotlight industry excellence and contributions to national economic transformation during NOGOF 2025.

Already, the 12 award categories to be given at the event includeNigerian Content Icon of the Year, Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award, Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year, Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the Year and Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the Year.

The categories also include Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year, Nigerian Content International Service Company of the Year, Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the Year and the Nigerian Content Innovator of the Year.

The rest are Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the Year, Nigerian Content Media Organization of the Year and Women in Leadership Award for Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment.

To uphold the awards’ prestige, an Advisory Committee of distinguished experts has been set up to oversee nominations and validate winners. Members include the Pioneer Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa; Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk; and former Zonal Operations Controller of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Wole Akinyosoye.

The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix OmatsolaOgbe emphasized that the awards aim to celebrate genuine impact rather than mere participation.

“This recognition is reserved for those who have gone beyond compliance to drive tangible growth in Nigerian Content,” he stated.

“With a focus on credibility, compliance, and measurable impact, the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards is poised to set a new standard for excellence in Nigeria’s energy sector,” the organizers stated.