The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has awarded ₦1 million, a laptop and a plaque to Wisdom David Fabunmi, a 200-level physiotherapy student of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, for emerging winner of its 10th annual national undergraduate essay competition.
The grand finale, held in Bayelsa State on Thursday, brought together students from universities across the country, with the board reaffirming its commitment to youth development, local manufacturing and sustainable Nigerian Content development.
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Joy Oghogho Enogieru, a 100-level optometry student of the University of Benin, emerged first runner-up, receiving ₦700,000, a laptop and a plaque, while Ahmadu Kodan Yusuf, a 100-level law student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, came third, winning ₦500,000, a laptop and a plaque.
The NCDMB disclosed that it received about 5,000 entries from 52 universities across the six geopolitical zones, adding that contestants who placed fourth to ninth also received consolation prizes.
The 2026 edition focused on the theme, “Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development,” aimed at encouraging undergraduates to explore practical solutions for expanding Nigeria’s productive capacity and strengthening the economy.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager of the Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the competition aligned with the board’s statutory responsibility to develop human and material capacity and ensure compliance within the oil and gas industry.
Ezeobi explained that the board pursued its capacity-building mandate through direct intervention programmes that trained graduates and artisans in technical and non-technical skills, as well as project-based initiatives providing on-the-job training in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
He stressed that universities should serve as centres of innovation, problem-solving and practical ideas, noting that young Nigerians had important roles to play in advancing local content development.
According to him, the competition encourages students to think critically about Nigerian Content and develop ideas capable of contributing to the country’s industrial and economic growth.
Ezeobi highlighted other youth-focused initiatives of the board, including Research Centres of Excellence at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island; University of Port Harcourt, Choba; University of Ibadan; and Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
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He also cited the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad, whose maiden edition concluded in July 2026, and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Readiness Training, through which 10,000 youths are being equipped with 10 key skills required for emerging industry projects.
Another initiative, the Catch the Researcher Young Programme (CRYP), he said, was designed to equip undergraduates with digital technology skills, advanced research methods and industry-relevant digital competencies.
On the competition’s theme, Ezeobi described manufacturing as a foundation for sustainable local content development, noting that the NCDMB established the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) to promote local production of components for the oil and gas industry.
He added that the board also implemented the Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) policy, which requires companies seeking contracts in the sector to demonstrate local manufacturing capacity and the ability to undertake key operations.
Earlier, the Programme Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, Eyinimi Omorozi, described the ceremony as a celebration of 10 years of investment in young Nigerians.
Omorozi commended the quality of entries received and expressed optimism about the country’s future, saying the board was not only developing infrastructure and monitoring compliance but also nurturing the next generation of leaders.
The Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Professor Promise Mebine, congratulated the NCDMB for sustaining the competition over the years.
Mebine said the board had demonstrated that Nigerian Content development extended beyond infrastructure to include investment in young people who would shape the country’s future.
He urged the winners to regard their awards as opportunities rather than destinations, while encouraging other participants not to lose hope.
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According to him, every essay submitted represented an investment in knowledge, urging the students to continue writing, researching and believing in Nigeria, as future editions would provide further opportunities for them to excel.
In a goodwill message, the Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Esueme Dan Kikile, commended the Executive Secretary, the Corporate Communications Division and the programme consultant for sustaining the annual competition, describing it as beneficial to both the board and participating students.
