The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has called on young people across the Niger Delta to play a central role in safeguarding national assets and driving Nigeria’s transition to a more diverse and sustainable energy future.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) 2025 Youth Forum event held at Harold Dappa Biriye Hall, Golden Tulip, Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Board’s Head of Government Relations, said the country was at a “defining moment” as global energy systems shift toward cleaner and more technologically advanced solutions.
Addressing participants drawn from government institutions, the private sector and youth groups, Ogbe said Nigerian youths were “contributors and solution-creators today,” adding that their ingenuity and digital capacity would be essential in tackling security, environmental and technological challenges in the oil and gas sector.
He listed areas where young people can make immediate impact, including combating pipeline vandalism, addressing environmental degradation, closing skills gaps in emerging energy technologies and driving innovation to boost local content development.
Ogbe cited the Board’s continued investments in human capacity development, technical training and entrepreneurship schemes as part of a deliberate strategy to build a globally competitive workforce for Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
He urged all participants to register on the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS), which he described as the gateway to NCDMB training programmes, certifications and employment-related opportunities.
On the issue of asset protection, the Executive Secretary warned that pipeline vandalism and growing restiveness in oil-producing communities had continued to undermine development prospects.
“The Nigerian youth must be champions of protection, not destruction, of national assets," he said.
Ogbe also stressed that Nigeria’s long-term economic competitiveness would depend on how well it prepares its young population for a future shaped by renewable energy, data-driven operations and gas-based industrialisation.
He disclosed that the coming years would see engineers, analysts, innovators and artisans take on new roles as the sector diversifies.
In closing, he challenged the youths to be “intentional, curious, disciplined and ready,” saying opportunities within the energy sector would favour those who prepare and engage positively.
“The future of Nigeria’s energy industry is bright because it is in the hands of a vibrant, intelligent and passionate generation,” he said.
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