Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has pledged to deepen its commitment to human capital development by extending oil and gas industry training and employment opportunities to rehabilitated inmates and other vulnerable groups, as part of a strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Bayelsa State. The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Bayelsa State Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Controller Spiff Baranaye S., and his delegation to the Nigerian Content Towers in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Thursday, 4 June 2026.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe (FNSE, FIPS), the General Manager of Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, reiterated the board’s focus on capacity building rather than handouts. Speaking through the Manager of Government Relations, Mr. Teddy Bai, Dr. Ezeobi noted that since the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010, Nigerian Content has grown from less than 5 percent to over 61 percent, driven by deliberate investments in skills development, employment creation and in-country industrial capacity. “The next phase of Nigerian Content growth requires deeper inclusion,” he said. “We must ensure that every willing Nigerian, including rehabilitated inmates and other vulnerable groups, has access to opportunities for productive participation in the nation’s economy.”
Controller Spiff Baranaye S., who led the correctional service delegation, expressed appreciation for the board’s willingness to collaborate and underscored the importance of rehabilitation and social reintegration in reducing recidivism. He noted that equipping inmates with marketable skills is a key priority of the Nigerian Correctional Service, and that a partnership with NCDMB could provide a direct pathway for trained ex‑offenders to secure employment or start businesses in the oil and gas sector and its supply chain. “We are not just about custody; we are about correction and reintegration. Skills without opportunity are wasted. This collaboration can change lives,” the Controller said.
The visit provided an opportunity for both institutions to explore areas of collaboration that support rehabilitation, skills development and social reintegration, particularly within Bayelsa State, while advancing the broader objectives of Nigerian Content development. The NCDMB reiterated its commitment to building capacity, fostering meaningful partnerships and implementing sustainable empowerment initiatives that align with the board’s mandate under the NOGICD Act.
The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, represented by Mr. Teddy Bai, was accompanied by Mr. Desmond Awumade (Manager, Security), Mrs. Tobechi Mbah (Supervisor, Government Relations), Mr. Biboye Diri (Officer, Security), Mr. Nyoki Ita, Miss Salamatu Ibrahim, and Mrs. Oyiza Lambert, all of the Corporate Communications Division.
The collaboration marks a significant step toward integrating marginalised populations into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, leveraging the board’s extensive capacity-building infrastructure – which includes the Nigerian Content Skills Training Centre and the NCDMB Tower in Yenagoa – to provide vocational training, certification and job placement support for rehabilitated inmates. According to NCDMB data, Nigerian Content participation has risen from less than 5% in 2010 to over 61% in 2026, a growth trajectory that the board believes can be accelerated through deliberate social inclusion policies.
The partnership aligns with global best practices in criminal justice reform, where employment and skills training are recognised as the most effective tools for reducing reoffending rates. For Bayelsa State, which hosts both the NCDMB headquarters and several correctional facilities, the initiative holds the promise of transforming the lives of hundreds of ex‑offenders who, upon release, often face discrimination and unemployment. The board has not yet announced a specific timeline for the rollout of the programme, but sources indicate that a memorandum of understanding may be signed in the coming months following further consultations.
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