Jonathan, Attah, others win Champions of Nigerian Content awards

Former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has received the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award at the maiden edition of the Champions of Nigerian Content Award ceremony, organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in partnership with Sweetcrude Ltd in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The award recognised and rewarded individuals and corporate bodies that have set the highest standards in deepening local participation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and contributed significantly to national development.

In his welcome address at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the Board had come a long way in the implementation of the NOGICD Act, recording landmark achievements that merited the recognition and honour of outstanding industry players, individuals, and corporate entities. He stated, “The time has come to identify and celebrate pillars of Nigerian Content who shall serve as a shining example of what is expected of others in the industry.”

Speaking after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr Jonathan recalled how he promptly signed the Nigerian Content Bill in 2010 while serving as acting President, stating that an encounter with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who repeatedly referenced Nigeria as an example of underperformance in the utilisation of oil resources, greatly influenced his decision.

He pointed out that the example of China, which effectively domesticated and domiciled oil and gas industry activities, served as additional motivation.

He acknowledged that Senator Lee Maeba, who represented Rivers State South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was among the initiators of the Nigerian Content Bill and deserves special recognition by the NCDMB and Nigerians.

The former President expressed his appreciation to the NCDMB for the success of the Nigerian Content initiative and commended both past and present leadership of the agency for translating the dream behind the Act into reality.

Another notable winner in the distinguished individuals category was Engr Tony Attah, Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, who was named “Nigerian Content Icon of the Year.”

The award recognised his tenure as Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, during which he secured the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the NLNG Train 7 project and led his organisation to partner with the NCDMB to sign the first Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Nigeria LNG in June 2017.

Other distinguished winners included Professor Emenike Ejiogu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as “Nigerian Content Innovator of the Year,” and Ms Iroghama Ogbeifun, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Starzs Investments Company Limited, who received the Women in Leadership Award.

In the corporate category, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), now known as Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, clinched the “Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year” award, while Aradel won the “Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the Year” award.

Other winners in the corporate category included Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited as “Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the Year”; Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited as “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the Year”; Dorman Long Engineering Company Limited as “Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the Year”; and Technip FMC as “Nigerian Content International Service Company of the Year.”

Additionally, Bank of Industry (BOI) was recognised as “Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the Year,” while Thisday Newspapers was named “Nigerian Content Media Organisation of the Year.”

Speaking on the selection criteria, a member of the Award Advisory Committee, Mr Wole Akinyosoye, former Operations Controller with the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), stated that measurable metrics were used to determine the winners. He explained, “Awardees must have demonstrated operational consistency where applicable; must have contributed to enhanced utilisation and monetisation of gas resources where applicable, and must have improved on local refining capacity and energy security.”

Continuing, he said that awardees “must also have strictly complied with the Act and other statutory Nigerian Content requirements and must have made significant footprints in job creation and local sourcing.”

Regarding the composition of the Advisory Committee for the award, he pointed out that the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr Ernest Nwapa, served as Chairman, while the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO), Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim, and himself (Wole Akinyosoye) were members.

The “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards” took place on the sidelines of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025.