By Julius Agadaga, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has pledged to sustain investment in human and intellectual capacity development as part of efforts to grow Nigerian participation in the oil and gas sector.
The pledge was made at the 5th edition of its Book Reading Programme held at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The edition featured a review of The Pain and the Promise: Insights and Fragments on Nigeria and People, Public and Personal, authored by journalist and public policy analyst, Mr. Paul C. Nwabuikwu, who served as media aide to former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said sustainable local content development goes beyond technical competence.
“It requires knowledge, critical thinking, creativity and continuous learning.”
Ezeobi noted that the book reading series started small but has grown significantly and is now streamed live to NCDMB offices and other audiences globally.
“We bring authors of repute with thematic books that speak to different areas of life and development that concern not just the oil and gas industry, but Nigeria as a whole,” he said.
He added that the real test of progress is how policies and opportunities affect the lives of citizens.
In his response, the author, Mr. Nwabuikwu, thanked the Board for sustaining the initiative and promoting a culture of reading.
He said the book, a collection of insights drawn from journalism, public service and personal encounters, interrogates leadership, citizenship and nation-building.
He urged young Nigerians to document their experiences, noting that every lived experience is useful for nation-building.
The programme, moderated by Mr. Lishman Onisodemuya, included an interactive session with the author, a question-and-answer segment, book signing, spoken word performance and violin rendition.
On his part, the General Manager, Capacity Building, NCDMB, Engr. Dokubo Obongo, said the book draws attention to Nigeria’s diversity and dark history, including the civil war, and stressed the need for youths to learn from history and promote peace despite divisions.
“The lesson is that we must stand together as a united nation, harness our potential and build a prosperous nation,” he said.
Also speaking, former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, Hon. Laye Julius, described the book as engaging, humorous and rich in description.
He said the book educates readers on Nigeria’s peacekeeping operations, such as ECOMOG in Liberia, and will inspire young writers.
The programme was attended by NCDMB management and staff, academics, members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), journalists and students.
