Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has commenced a strategic overhaul of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, aimed at repositioning the platform to deliver more impactful outcomes in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

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The initiative was disclosed in a media release issued by the Board’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Obinna Ezeobi, who said the reset is designed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and enhance Nigerian content development.

According to the statement, the overhaul process was formally launched at a two-day retreat and the first half of the NCCF 2026 Steering Committee meeting, where participants emphasized the need for a clear and actionable roadmap to improve the forum’s effectiveness.

Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the retreat as a “defining moment” in the evolution of the NCCF. He noted that although the forum has recorded steady progress since its establishment, a more deliberate and strategic direction is now required to achieve long-term impact.

“The NCCF began as a vision, modest in structure but bold in intent. Today, it has grown through collaboration and shared commitment. However, progress must now be matched with intentional planning,” he said.

Ogbe stressed that the success of the reset would depend on the quality of stakeholder engagement and the willingness of participants to move beyond institutional silos in developing sustainable solutions.

The statement highlighted a baseline study conducted by Ernst & Young as a key component of the reform process. The study benchmarked NCCF’s operations against global best practices and identified critical gaps affecting its performance.

Partner at EY and session facilitator, Damilola Aloba, said the engagement is focused on strengthening aligned leadership, improving coordination between the NCCF, its Sectoral Working Groups (SWGs), and NCDMB, and fostering shared ownership of the forum’s mandate.

He noted that stakeholder consultations revealed several structural and operational challenges, including unclear strategic direction from the Board, delays in project approvals, weak evaluation and tracking systems, and limited clarity on post-idea decision-making processes.

Additional constraints identified include funding limitations, as the forum relies largely on NCDMB, and the absence of defined criteria for assessing project viability and impact.

Despite these challenges, the statement acknowledged the strong commitment of SWG members, particularly in supporting capacity development initiatives across the oil and gas value chain.

Providing further insight, Acting Deputy Manager of NCCF, Bright Amatoru, explained that the forum was established in 2014 under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act to facilitate stakeholder engagement, identify industry gaps, and develop targeted interventions.

He listed key achievements of the NCCF to include the development of National Operational Standards to harmonise capacity development efforts, the Marine Assets Listing System for the oil and gas sector, and industry-focused initiatives such as the Women in Oil and Gas Conference and mentorship programmes.

However, Amatoru acknowledged that the absence of a clearly defined strategic framework has limited the forum’s ability to prioritise interventions and deliver optimal results.

The ongoing retreat, according to the statement, is part of broader efforts by NCDMB to develop a comprehensive NCCF strategic roadmap aligned with its 10-year plan and evolving industry expectations.

Participants are expected to generate actionable ideas, refine governance structures, and establish a clear execution pathway that will enhance the forum’s capacity to drive sustainable in-country value creation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.