The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has said that Africa’s energy future depends on making local content policies and their effective implementation the cornerstone of the continent’s development strategy.

Speaking at the 4th African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) Local Content Conference and Exhibition in Brazzaville, Ogbe said African nations must move beyond exporting crude resources to building indigenous capacity and retaining value within the continent.

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“Local content represents our resolve to build indigenous capacity, retain value within our borders, and create sustainable jobs for our young and dynamic population,” he said.

Ogbe, who led Nigeria’s delegation and represented the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, at APPO’s statutory ministerial meeting, noted that Africa’s hydrocarbon wealth — over 125 billion barrels of proven crude reserves and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas — could only translate to shared prosperity through deliberate local content policies.

He said Nigeria’s 15-year experience under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act has shown how strong local participation can transform the oil and gas industry and stimulate broader economic growth.

“Local content is not just a regulatory framework; it is a development strategy that connects the oil and gas industry to other sectors of the economy,” he said.

Ogbe reaffirmed NCDMB’s readiness to share its expertise, digital tools, and policy frameworks with other African producers to strengthen local participation continent-wide. He cited the Board’s systems — including the NOGIC Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS) — as templates other nations can adopt.

He also proposed the creation of an African Energy Services Network to promote collaboration among APPO member states, enabling fabrication, engineering, and manufacturing hubs across the continent to complement one another.

“This network would create a pan-African industrial ecosystem, with Nigeria’s existing capacities available to drive transformative processes,” he added.

Ogbe lauded the establishment of the African Energy Bank by APPO and Afreximbank, saying it will provide competitive financing for energy projects. He pledged NCDMB’s technical support to the initiative.

The Executive Secretary highlighted Nigeria’s infrastructure achievements — including the Egina FPSO Integration Yard in Lagos, oil and gas parks in Bayelsa and Cross River States, and the NCDMB Centre for Research and Development — as examples of sustainable local content investments that can serve as models for other African countries.

He added that NCDMB’s Human Capacity Development programs have trained more than 20,000 Nigerians in specialized oil and gas skills, positioning them for cross-border collaborations in engineering, marine, fabrication, and digital energy services.

During the conference, senior NCDMB officials also participated in panel discussions showcasing Nigeria’s local content journey and achievements, drawing commendations from other African nations eager to replicate the model.