May 23, (THEWILL) – Former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has received the Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jonathan received the 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.
Held on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the award recognised and rewarded individuals and corporate bodies that 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, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the Board had come a long way in the implementation of the NOGICD Act and recorded landmark achievements in which outstanding industry players, individuals and corporate entities deserved to be identified and honoured.
In his words, “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, Jonathan recalled how he promptly signed the Nigerian Content Bill in 2010 when he was the acting President. He stated that an encounter with the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, who had repeatedly mentioned Nigeria as a reference point for underperformance in the utilisation of oil resources, deeply motivated him. Jonathan also pointed out that China’s example of easily domesticating and domiciling oil and gas industry activities further inspired his decision.
He recalled 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 generally.
The former President appreciated the NCDMB for the success of the Nigerian Content and lauded past and present leadership of the agency that translated the dream behind the Act into reality.
Another top winner in the distinguished individuals category, Engr. Tony Attah, the Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, was named “Nigerian Content Icon of the Year. The award was for his time as the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, during which time he secured the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the NLNG Train 7 project and led his organisation to partner with NCDMB to sign the first Service Level Agreement (SLA), which Nigeria LNG signed in June 2017.
Other top winners include 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, 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 were 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.” On the winners list also were Bank of Industry (BOI) as “Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the Year” and Thisday Newspapers as “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), said measurable metrics were used to determine the winners.
According to him, “Awardees must have demonstrated operational consistency where applicable; must have contributed to enhanced utilisation and monetisation of gas resources as applicable, and must have improved on local refining where applicable in terms of capacity and energy security.” He said, they “must also have strictly complied with the Act and other statutory Nigerian Content requirements, and must have made significant footprint in job creation and local sourcing.”
On the composition of the Advisory Committee for the Award, he pointed out that the pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, was the Chairman, while the Secretary-General of the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, and he (Wole Akinyosoye), were members.
The “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards” were held on the sidelines of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) 2025.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
