The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has announced the winners of its 10th Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition, with a University of Ilorin student emerging as the overall winner at an award ceremony held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.
The competition, which attracted about 5,000 entries from 52 universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, focused on the theme, “Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development,” highlighting the role of young people and domestic manufacturing in strengthening the nation’s economy.
Wisdom David Fabunmi, a 200-level Physiotherapy student at the University of Ilorin, won the first prize of ₦1 million, a brand-new laptop and a plaque.
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Joy Oghogho Enogieru, a 100-level Doctor of Optometry student at the University of Benin, emerged first runner-up, receiving ₦700,000, a laptop and a plaque.
Ahmadu Kodan Yusuf, a 100-level Law student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, secured third place, winning ₦500,000, a laptop and a plaque. Contestants who finished between fourth and ninth positions also received consolation prizes.
NCDMB Highlights Importance of Youth Development
Speaking at the grand finale held at the NCDMB Conference Centre in Yenagoa, the Board’s General Manager of Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, represented the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
Ezeobi said the competition supports the NCDMB’s mandate to develop human and material capacity while ensuring compliance with local content requirements in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
He explained that the Board implements its capacity-building objectives through various initiatives, including direct intervention training for graduates and artisans in technical and non-technical skills.
The Board also provides project-based human capital development programmes that offer practical, on-the-job training on active projects, in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010.
According to Ezeobi, universities play a critical role in developing ideas, encouraging innovation, examining societal challenges and producing solutions that can advance national development.
He said engaging undergraduates through the essay competition encourages critical thinking, research and effective communication while promoting a deeper understanding of Nigerian Content.
Ezeobi stressed that the creativity, commitment and ingenuity of young Nigerians would remain essential to the future of local content development.
Board Expands Programmes for Young Nigerians
The NCDMB official listed several other initiatives designed to strengthen the skills and research capabilities of young people in tertiary institutions.
These include 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; University of Ibadan; and Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
He also highlighted the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an initiative established to encourage innovation among engineering students, whose maiden edition concluded in July 2026.
Another programme is the Nigerian Oil and Gas Readiness Training, through which 10,000 young Nigerians are being trained in 10 priority skills required for emerging oil and gas projects.
The Board also operates the Catch-the-Researcher-Young Programme (CRYP), a digital research capacity development initiative aimed at equipping undergraduates with modern technology skills, advanced research methods and industry-relevant digital competencies.
Ezeobi said this year’s essay theme was designed to encourage students to explore ways Nigeria could improve its productive capacity, strengthen domestic manufacturing and generate greater economic value.
He described manufacturing as the foundation of sustainable local content development, noting that the NCDMB established the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) to support the local production of components used in the oil and gas industry.
He further explained that the Board implements the Nigerian Content Equipment Commitment (NCEC) policy, which requires companies to demonstrate their manufacturing capabilities and capacity to execute key activities before securing contract opportunities in the sector.
Organisers Commend Students and NCDMB
Earlier, the programme consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, Eyinimi Omorozi, described the award ceremony as a celebration of a decade of investment in ideas by the NCDMB.
Omorozi expressed satisfaction with the quality of submissions received from participants, expressing confidence in the ability of young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to the country’s future.
He said the Board’s work extended beyond developing facilities and monitoring compliance to include investing in the intellectual development of young people.
The chairman of the occasion, Professor Promise Mebine, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Otuoke, also congratulated the NCDMB on sustaining the competition over the years.
Mebine said developing Nigerian Content was not limited to building pipelines and oil platforms but also required investing in people, particularly young Nigerians who would lead the country in the future.
He congratulated the winners, describing their achievements as well-deserved, while encouraging them to take advantage of the opportunities created by the competition.
Addressing other participants, the vice-chancellor urged them not to regard their results as failure, but as an opportunity to improve their research, writing and analytical skills.
He encouraged the students to continue researching, writing and believing in Nigeria, noting that future editions of the competition would provide further opportunities 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 their contributions to sustaining the competition.
He noted that the initiative had continued to benefit both the Board and participating students by promoting intellectual development and strengthening awareness of Nigerian Content.
The 10th edition of the competition reinforces the NCDMB’s commitment to youth development, research and local manufacturing as important drivers of sustainable economic growth and a stronger Nigerian oil and gas industry.
