Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to tackling the growing challenge of out-of-school children through the adoption and expansion of non-formal education programmes aimed at job creation, youth empowerment and skills development.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this during a special plenary session moderated by Prince Edward at the ongoing Education World Forum in London.

The session focused on the importance of non-formal education, soft skills acquisition and industry collaboration in improving employability and wellbeing among young people.

Other panellists at the session included Paul Calandra, Raquel Teixeira and Andrea Chakma.

Speaking at the event, Alausa said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on using informal and non-formal education to empower millions of out-of-school children and vulnerable youths across the country.

This was contained in a statement on Wednesday signed by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Education.

According to Alausa, the Federal Ministry of Education has introduced several initiatives targeted at bridging literacy gaps, expanding vocational opportunities and integrating marginalised groups into the economy.

‘What we are doing in Nigeria is because we have a lot of out-of-school children, we have to find a way that we can quickly get them a kind of non-formal education,’ the minister said.

He explained that the government has developed an Accelerated Basic Education Programme with a separate curriculum tailored towards helping out-of-school children catch up with conventional learning standards.

‘We’ve created a separate curriculum for them called accelerated basic education programme which ties them to what they should be learning in school,’ he stated.

The minister added that the government is also prioritising Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a critical tool for equipping young Nigerians with employable and entrepreneurial skills.

‘We’ve heavily focused on technical vocational education, which is still a form of formal education but in a non-formal setting to give people that have gone to school other skill sets that they can use to benefit themselves and benefit their community,’ he said.

Alausa further noted that entrepreneurial and innovation training has now been infused into different levels of education to ensure students acquire practical business and leadership skills.

‘We have also now infused what we call entrepreneurial training in these kids. Whatever level of courses they are studying, they go through our entrepreneurship, innovation business certification to equip them with the skills they need to function and do things differently,’ he added.

He also highlighted the government’s growing focus on digital literacy and technology-driven education to prepare youths for future opportunities in the digital economy.

Among the major programmes highlighted by the minister were the tuition-free TVET initiative, the National Policy on Skills Development, nationwide mass literacy and adult education programmes, as well as the Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education initiative aimed at integrating traditional Quranic education with vocational and life skills training.

According to him, the overall objective of the reforms is to equip Nigerian youths with relevant present-day and future skills that would enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

‘The whole goal of what we are doing here is to really get them the skills – skills for the present and skills for the future. We are also looking at the other special abilities our teeming youths have,’ he said.

The minister also commended the Duke of Edinburgh for visiting Nigeria in November 2025 and acknowledged Nigeria’s participation in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation.

The Esama of Benin Kingdom and Romanian Ambassador to Edo and Delta States, Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, on Wednesday, congratulated Dr. Paddy Iyamu on his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Oredo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Chief Igbinedion, the revered billionaire businessman and philanthropist, described Iyamu’s victory at the APC primary election as well-deserved, noting that his emergence did not come to him as a surprise, considering his track record in public service and leadership.

The Benin high chief made the remarks when Iyamu and members of his entourage paid him a courtesy visit at his palatial residence in Benin City.

The Esama commended the former Commissioner for Education for what he termed his outstanding performance while serving in the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo

‘You have never disappointed anybody, and God will not allow you to disappoint us now. Carry on with the good work you are doing,’ Igbinedion said.

‘You performed creditably well while you were commissioner, and your achievements remain a testament to your competence and readiness for higher political responsibilities.’

The Esama of the Benin Kingdom thereafter made substantial financial contributions towards Iyamu’s political aspiration, just as he expressed confidence that the APC candidate would deliver quality representation to the people of Oredo Federal Constituency if elected into the Green Chamber in 2027.

Earlier in a brief remark, Iyamu thanked the Esama for his prayers and suppor, promising to entrench a purposeful leadership in Oredo federal Constituency.

Dr. Iyamu had last weekend emerged winner of the APC primary election for Oredo Federal Constituency after defeating the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Esosa Iyawe, with a wide margin.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Abdul Mohammed, has called on young lawyers to embrace specialisation, mentorship and ethical conduct in order to thrive in the evolving legal profession.

Mohammed, who made the call in Abuja while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Law week of the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urged young lawyers to develop expertise in specific areas of law, noting that modern legal practice now rewards specialisation.

According to him, lawyers who distinguish themselves in particular fields are more likely to gain recognition and professional success.

‘Law is now so very wide that specialisation is the way forward,’ he said, adding that lawyers should strive to build reputations in areas where they can demonstrate depth and competence.

The senior advocate also stressed the importance of mentorship in legal practice, saying young lawyers must deliberately seek guidance from experienced practitioners.

‘You have to choose mentors. Sometimes you don’t need to work in people’s firms before becoming their mentees. You can approach them and seek guidance,’ he said.

Mohammed further advised lawyers to prioritise their health despite the demands of the profession, describing health as essential to enjoying the rewards of success.

‘Whatever it is you’ve earned, if you are not healthy, you cannot enjoy it,’ he said while recounting the experiences of colleagues whose health challenges affected their careers.

On professional conduct, he cautioned lawyers against hostility in courtrooms, insisting that litigation should not be treated as warfare.

‘You need not be in quarrel with counsel on the other side. It is the parties that are fighting; you are only carrying out your professional obligation,’ he stated.

Commenting on the judiciary, the senior lawyer described it as ‘the last hope of the common man’ while acknowledging that although there are challenges within the system, the judiciary should not be broadly labelled corrupt.

‘We have to protect the judiciary and call out corrupt persons, whether on the bench or among lawyers,’ he said.

In her remarks, the acting chairperson of the NBA Garki Branch, Lydia Izan, said technological innovations and artificial intelligence were reshaping legal practice, especially for younger lawyers.

She noted that while technology has improved efficiency, professional ethics and human judgment must remain central to legal practice, adding that, ‘We cannot continue in the old traditional way of doing things. Technology is changing the profession and we need to flow with it’.

Izan also emphasised the need for mentorship, advocating that newly called lawyers should spend years learning under experienced practitioners before establishing their own chambers.

‘The kind of lawyer you become in future is majorly dependent on where you are mentored,’ she said and acknowledged concerns over poor remuneration for junior lawyers, saying efforts were being made to encourage better welfare and standardised payment structures within the profession.

On the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, Izan warned against overreliance on AI-generated legal materials, noting that discernment and wisdom in judicial decision-making cannot be replaced by technology.

The three-day programme, themed ’21st Century Lawyer: Growing, Thriving, and Becoming,’ brought together legal practitioners, senior advocates, and members of the judiciary for discussions on the future of legal practice in Nigeria.

Google has announced a new set of features for Google Workspace, introducing more artificial intelligence tools across Gmail, Docs, Meet, and other services as it expands Gemini’s role in workplace productivity.

The company stated that the updates are designed to help users ‘create and get things done,’ with new tools focused on writing, communication, organisation, and workflow automation.

‘We’re introducing new ways to create and get things done in Google Workspace,’ Google said while announcing the updates on its blog.

New voice tools for Gmail, Docs and Keep

Among the updates is a new conversational voice feature for Gmail, Google Docs and Google Keep, allowing users to interact with the apps using voice commands for drafting, editing and note-taking.

Google said the feature is intended to make interaction with Workspace applications more natural, particularly for users working across multiple devices.

Google Pics introduced

The company also unveiled Google Pics, a new image creation and editing tool integrated into Workspace, enabling users to generate and modify images directly within their work environment.

According to Google, the feature is designed to support presentations, documents, and collaborative projects by reducing the need to switch between external design tools.

AI Inbox and smarter organisation

Google further announced updates to AI Inbox, aimed at helping users manage emails more efficiently by prioritising messages, summarising content and suggesting actions.

The company expressed that the changes are part of its wider effort to use Gemini to reduce repetitive work and improve productivity across Workspace tools.

This latest development adds to Google’s broader push to embed artificial intelligence into its products, as competition intensifies among major technology firms building AI-powered workplace tools.

This was released on Wednesday after President Donald Trump said he was within an hour of making the decision to restart the military campaign.

For six weeks, Trump had paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, which in response stalled the efforts to end the war.

Earlier, Tribune Online reports that Trump rejected Iran’s new peace proposal to the United States, which included the demands for control of the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damage, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area.

Trump had, on Monday and Tuesday, revealed how he had come close to ordering a new bombing campaign but had put it off at the last minute to give more time for diplomacy.

‘I was an hour away from making the decision to go today,’ Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

In response to Trump’s revelation, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate for any new attacks by striking countries in the Middle East that house U.S. bases.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards revealed in a statement carried on state media to hit targets beyond the region if the US attacks again.

‘If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war ?will extend beyond the region this time.’

The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dahiru Liman, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Magaji Henry Danjuma, and the Majority Leader, Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu, have emerged as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for their respective constituencies through consensus affirmation exercises held across Kaduna State.

Liman was unanimously affirmed as the APC candidate for Makera Constituency during the party’s primary exercise attended by party leaders, electoral officials and supporters.

Declaring the result, the Returning Officer, Ezekiel Samuel Gode, said Liman emerged unopposed after being adopted as the sole consensus candidate for the constituency.

‘Having received the affirmation results from the five voting areas and with no other contestant in the race, I hereby declare Rt. Hon. Liman Tahiru as the duly returned and affirmed candidate for the Makera State Constituency seat,’ he said.

Similarly, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Magaji Henry Danjuma, emerged as the APC candidate for Kagarko Constituency after party members across the wards affirmed his candidature in an unopposed exercise.

The APC Returning Officer, Abdulrahman Ibrahim Apo Jere, officially declared Danjuma winner at the local government collation centre following the affirmation process.

Also, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu, secured the APC ticket for Lere East Constituency after a peaceful affirmation exercise conducted across the constituency’s six wards.

Returning Officer for Lere East Constituency, Hon. Aminu Yaro, officially returned her as the party’s candidate following the exercise held in Saminaka.

Meanwhile, in a move aimed at strengthening party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, several APC aspirants for Kaduna State House of Assembly seats voluntarily withdrew from the race and endorsed the party’s consensus candidates.

Speaking on behalf of the group in Kaduna, Dr Abdulrazaq Shuibu Labbo, an aspirant for Kaka/Gogi Constituency in Birnin Gwari, said the decision followed consultations and interventions by Governor Uba Sani to sustain cohesion within the party.

‘We stand in full solidarity with the progressive leadership of Governor Senator Uba Sani and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to his successful re-election and the overall victory of the APC in Kaduna State and across the nation,’ he said.

Those who stepped down include Dr Abdulrazaq Shuibu Labbo (Kaka/Gogi, Birnin Gwari), Mustapha Adam (Giwa West), Deborah Musa (Lere West), Isah Nasidi (Doka/Gabasawa) and Kabiru Bale Ahmed (Kawo).

The Kaduna Police Command has said that the kidnapping of an elderly man, Alhaji Rabo Jelani, was allegedly planned by his son, Yusuf Rabo, and his grandson, Ali Haruna, who is still at large.

According to the police on Tuesday, Yusuf Rabo and Musa Adamu, who are in custody, were arrested after investigations into the abduction of Alhaji Rabo Jelani.

Police investigations showed that Yusuf Rabo worked with Musa Adamu and Ali Haruna, the victim’s grandson, to kidnap the elderly man for ransom, on the claim that he had significant wealth and livestock.

It was also established that the group used AK-47 rifles during the operations. Ali Haruna was alleged to have provided one of the weapons belonging to his father, while other members supplied additional arms. One AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine was recovered during the operation.

‘Findings revealed that the victim was abducted on separate occasions and taken to forest locations where ransom negotiations were coordinated by Yusuf Rabo himself. The first abduction reportedly yielded a ransom payment of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000), while a subsequent operation generated Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N4,500,000),’ said the police.

The police also linked the group to other crimes in the area, including the kidnapping of a trader identified as Mr Iyke and an armed robbery attack along the Kagoma axis where commuters were robbed of cash and valuables.

Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect, Ali Haruna, and recover more weapons and items connected to the case.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by the late Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over an alleged plan to impeach him.

The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Wednesday, struck out the suit after B.K. Angaye, who appeared for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker and other defendants, made an application to that effect.

When the case was called, no counsel appeared for Ewhrudjakpo, who died on December 11 last year.

Angaye announced his appearance for the House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, and the Clerk of the Assembly, who were listed as the 1st, 2nd, 5th and 7th defendants in the suit.

The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) was represented at the proceedings by Ifeoma Okonkwo.

Angaye informed the court that the suit, which had been pending for a considerable period, had been overtaken by events and urged the court to strike it out. Okonkwo did not oppose the application.

Justice Nwite consequently struck out the case, stating that the matter had been overtaken by events and was therefore struck out.

Ewhrudjakpo, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, had filed the suit to challenge an alleged move by the State House of Assembly to impeach him following his refusal to defect with the state governor, Douye Diri, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that members of the Bayelsa Assembly were under pressure to remove him from office for refusing to resign from the PDP, the platform on which he and Diri were elected.

Diri had defected from the PDP to the APC on November 3, 2025, but Ewhrudjakpo remained in the party.

The late Deputy Governor, through his lawyer Reuben Egwuaba, had sought an order restraining the House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in violation of Sections 188(5)-(9) and (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), on the grounds of his refusal to defect.

He also sought an order restraining the Assembly from initiating or conducting impeachment proceedings against him, and from recognising or dealing with any person as Deputy Governor of the state.

Additionally, Ewhrudjakpo sought an order restraining the Inspector-General of Police, the DSS Director-General, and the Bayelsa Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection pending the determination of the motion.

After the ex-parte motion was moved on October 27, 2025, Justice Nwite directed the defendants to appear and show cause why the interim orders sought should not be granted.

The late Ewhrudjakpo was said to have collapsed in his office in Yenagoa and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead on December 11, 2025. He was buried on January 30, 2026.

Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions are expected to begin adjustments to their admission details following the release of institutional cut-off marks and ongoing screening exercises across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Institutions are beginning to meet departmental requirements for highly competitive courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Computer Science and Mass Communication. While some candidates comfortably met the benchmarks for their preferred programmes, others fell short and are now exploring alternatives that may improve their chances of securing admission this year.

One of the major options available to affected candidates is the Change of Course or Institution process conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admission Processing System, popularly known as CAPS.

The process allows candidates to switch from one course to another or move to a different institution entirely if their UTME score, O’level result or subject combination does not satisfy the requirements of their original choice.

Tribune Online had earlier reported that JAMB officially opened the 2026 UTME Change of Institution and Course portal for candidates seeking admission adjustments across tertiary institutions in the country.

Although many candidates believe the process can be completed with a mobile phone, admission experts insist that the official procedure still requires biometric verification at an accredited CBT centre before any change can reflect on the CAPS dashboard.

Officials also warn candidates against making random course changes without checking admission requirements because universities rely heavily on CAPS records during final admission processing.

Why candidates apply for Change of Course

The competition for admission into some departments remains one of the biggest reasons candidates apply to change courses every admission season. Courses such as Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Law usually attract very high cut-off marks because of limited admission quotas and the large number of applicants seeking placement into those programmes.

Candidates who fail to meet the required scores are often advised to move to related or less competitive courses where their UTME results may still stand a realistic chance of gaining admission.

Apart from low UTME scores, many candidates also discover during admission screening that their O’level subjects do not satisfy the requirements for their chosen programme.

In some cases, students realise too late that they selected the wrong UTME subject combination during registration, automatically making them ineligible for admission into certain departments.

What candidates must know before applying

Before candidates proceed to apply for a change of course JAMB CAPS, first study the admission requirements for the intended course carefully. Many students rush into changing programmes immediately after seeing departmental cut-off marks without verifying whether they possess the required O’level subjects and UTME combination for the new course.

JAMB’s official brochure contains the approved requirements for every programme offered in Nigerian tertiary institutions, and candidates are encouraged to consult it before making any final decision.

Applicants are also expected to confirm whether their preferred institution is still accepting changes because some universities stop processing modifications once screening progresses to advanced stages.

Candidates should equally note that the official JAMB fee for Change of Course or Institution remains N2,500, although accredited CBT centres may charge additional service fees for registration and printing.

Documents and details required at the CBT Centre

Candidates intending to Apply for change of course JAMB CAPS are expected to visit an accredited CBT centre with all necessary details required for the correction exercise.

The JAMB registration number remains the most important requirement because it gives operators access to the candidate’s admission profile. Applicants are also expected to provide the phone number and email address linked to their JAMB account for verification purposes.

Candidates should go with their O’level result details as institutions may reject applications from students who do not possess the compulsory credits required for their preferred programme. Candidates changing to courses without first confirming whether their results satisfy the admission conditions attached to those programmes.

Applicants are equally advised to prepare for the official correction fee and service charges requested by CBT operators. Since biometric verification is compulsory, candidates cannot ask relatives or friends to process the change on their behalf.

Step-by-Step process to apply for change of course JAMB CAPS

Step 1: Visit an accredited CBT centre

Candidates must first go to a JAMB-approved accredited CBT centre to begin the change of course or institution process. Only authorised centres can process corrections on the JAMB CAPS portal.

Step 2: Complete biometric verification

At the CBT centre, biometric verification is carried out to confirm the candidate’s identity before any modification can be made to the profile.

Step 3: Access the JAMB eFacility Portal

After successful verification, the CBT operator logs into the candidate’s JAMB profile through the official JAMB eFacility portal and opens the ‘Correction of Data’ section.

Step 4: Select the Preferred Correction Option

Candidates are required to choose the type of correction they want to make. They can decide to change only their course,change only their institution, change both course and institution simultaneously

Step 5: Enter the new course or institution

The operator then inputs the candidate’s new preferred course and institution based on the candidate’s UTME score, admission requirements and eligibility.

Step 6: Crosscheck all details carefully

Candidates are advised to carefully review all entries before submission. Errors involving spellings, institution codes or programme selections could affect admission processing later.

Step 7: Make payment and submit the request

Once payment for the correction is completed successfully, the request is submitted on the portal.

Step 8: Collect the printout

A printout confirming the correction request is issued immediately after submission as evidence of the successful application.

Step 9: Monitor CAPS for update

The updated information usually reflects on JAMB CAPS shortly after processing. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor their admission status through the official JAMB portal.

Why CAPS consistency matters during admission

Admission experts continue to warn candidates about the dangers of having conflicting records on CAPS and institutional portals during admission processing. Many students successfully update their courses on school portals but fail to reflect the same changes on JAMB CAPS, creating discrepancies that may affect admission approval.

Universities rely heavily on CAPS for final admission uploads and verification. Where the programme displayed on CAPS differs from the one submitted during institutional screening, institutions may be unable to process the admission successfully.

Candidates are therefore advised to ensure that their institution name, course, O’level records and admission details correspond correctly across all admission platforms. Candidates combining two sitting results can also check the official portal on how to go about it.

Likely mistakes candidates may experience during Change of Course

Admission officers warn candidates against making emotional decisions while choosing new courses during the correction process. Some candidates switch to programmes they know little about simply because they believe admission chances may be higher there. Others fail to check if their O’level subjects align with the requirements for the new programme before completing the change.

There are also cases where candidates patronise unofficial cybercafes claiming they can process CAPS corrections without biometric verification. JAMB has repeatedly warned candidates against using unapproved centres because unofficial changes may fail to reflect properly on admission records.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can I change my course on JAMB CAPS?

Candidates can apply for multiple course changes depending on admission timelines and institutional deadlines. However, payment is required each time a new correction request is submitted.

Can I apply for a Change of Course using my phone?

No. The official process still requires biometric verification at an accredited CBT centre before any modification can be completed successfully.

How long does it take for Change of Course to reflect on CAPS?

For many candidates, the update appears almost immediately after submission. However, some corrections may take several hours depending on system traffic and processing delays.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, says Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is witnessing stronger investor confidence, renewed optimism, strategic reforms, policy clarity and deliberate efforts aimed at repositioning the economy for sustainable growth and development.

Ogbe stated that under the current administration, significant efforts have been made to attract investments, improve competitiveness, unlock dormant opportunities and create an environment where businesses can thrive.

The NCDMB boss disclosed this to industry operators, including policymakers, regulators, operators, investors, financiers, contractors, service providers, manufacturers and technology providers, during the 2026 Nigerian Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Stakeholders Summit held in Lagos.

The summit was themed, ‘Unlocking, Growing and Sustaining Nigerian Content Development in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Midstream and Downstream Sectors.’

Ogbe pointed out that reforms in the sector have been yielding positive outcomes across the energy value chain while positioning Nigeria as one of the most attractive destinations for oil and gas investments on the African continent.

Addressing stakeholders, Ogbe said: ‘Your presence here today is not only appreciated, but it also reflects our shared commitment to advancing Nigerian Content, promoting industrial growth, strengthening investments, creating sustainable jobs and building a stronger, more resilient energy sector for our nation.

‘As many of you already know, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board was established pursuant to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, with a clear mandate to deepen indigenous participation, build in-country capacity, create employment opportunities, develop technical competence, promote technology transfer and ensure that the enormous value generated from our hydrocarbon resources translates into real economic benefits for Nigerians.

‘Our journey in Nigerian Content development has been progressive and deliberate across the entire oil and gas value chain.’

In the upstream sector, he said the NCDMB and stakeholders had collectively recorded significant milestones in exploration, production, drilling services, fabrication, engineering, marine operations, project management and indigenous asset ownership.

‘Nigerian companies today are not just participants but major contributors to some of the most complex upstream projects in our industry, delivering quality value with competence and professionalism.

‘In the midstream sector, we are now witnessing tremendous opportunities in gas gathering, gas processing, compression, transportation, storage infrastructure, pipelines, LPG and CNG distribution, and related industrial infrastructure,’ he said.

As Nigeria continues to deepen its gas-based industrialisation agenda, the executive secretary said the midstream sector presents enormous opportunities for investment, technology deployment, local manufacturing and capacity development.

In the downstream sector, he said the board has continued to witness growing opportunities in refining, product distribution, retail operations, depot infrastructure, lubricants, petrochemical products, logistics, supply chain optimisation and domestic energy accessibility.

According to him, the segment remains one of the strongest drivers of employment creation, SME participation, local enterprise development and direct economic impact on everyday Nigerians.

Ogbe said: ‘As a board, our vision is not limited to one segment of the industry. Our vision is to ensure that Nigerian content is fully embedded across the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, creating an integrated ecosystem where Nigerian businesses, Nigerian professionals and Nigerian communities can prosper sustainably.

‘For many years, Nigeria was largely known as a producer and exporter of crude oil while depending heavily on imported refined petroleum products and industrial feedstock. Today, that narrative is changing, and changing significantly.’

This transformation, he said, is being driven by bold government reforms, private sector confidence, improved regulatory clarity and the growing capacity of indigenous institutions and businesses to deliver large-scale projects.

‘One of the most notable achievements in this regard is the emergence of world-class refining infrastructure within our country, particularly the Dangote Refinery, which stands today as one of the largest single-train refineries in the world and a major symbol of Nigeria’s industrial ambition, resilience and capacity for self-sufficiency.’

In addition to large-scale refining investments, he said Nigerians are also witnessing encouraging progress in the development of modular refineries across different parts of the country, creating opportunities for indigenous participation, technology transfer, local manufacturing, employment generation and improved domestic supply security.

Ogbe said: ‘We are equally seeing major progress in gas commercialisation, LPG penetration, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) deployment, petrochemical expansion, fertiliser production and associated industrial developments that are creating value beyond crude oil exports.

‘Projects such as NLNG Train 7, ongoing gas infrastructure expansion programmes, domestic gas utilisation initiatives, the Federal Government’s Presidential Initiative on CNG, and several indigenous processing and infrastructure projects are clear evidence that Nigeria is not only producing energy resources, but increasingly processing, adding value, industrialising and exporting finished and semi-finished energy products to regional and international markets.

‘However, as we continue to deepen Nigerian Content, it has become increasingly clear that the next major frontier for sustainable economic growth, industrial expansion, employment generation and national competitiveness lies significantly within the midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.’

This realisation, he said, informed the strategic focus of the summit, describing the forum as ‘not just another industry gathering, not merely a compliance event, not simply a networking platform, but a strategic engagement’ designed to bring together policymakers, regulators, operators, investors, financiers, contractors, service providers, manufacturers, technology providers and other key stakeholders to collectively chart a practical and sustainable path for Nigerian Content development within the midstream and downstream sectors.

‘As a board, we fully understand our responsibility under the law to drive compliance. Compliance remains central to our mandate. Compliance remains non-negotiable. Compliance remains the foundation upon which Nigerian Content is built.

‘We also recognise that compliance must be practical, implementable, support business growth, encourage investment, create value and solve real problems. And this is why we are here,’ Ogbe said.

NCDMB’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Esueme Dan Kikile, said the summit came at a very important time in Nigeria’s energy journey as the board continues to deepen Nigerian Content implementation and unlock greater opportunities across the midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry.

He said the theme reflected the collective commitment to strengthening indigenous participation, promoting local capacity development, encouraging investment and ensuring sustainable economic growth for the nation.

The platform, he said, would foster meaningful engagement among regulators, operators, investors, service providers, financial institutions, policymakers and other critical stakeholders.

He added: ‘We are confident that the discussions, technical sessions and strategic collaborations from this summit will generate practical solutions and actionable outcomes that will further enhance the growth and competitiveness of local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.’