At the recent Namibia Oil & Gas Conference held in Windhoek, Nigeria proudly took its place on the international stage as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) showcased the strides made in local content development. Delegates from Namibia’s policy circles, indigenous oil and gas firms, international service companies, and other key stakeholders gathered to discuss how best to localise the oil and gas ecosystem.
The Nigerian delegation—led by Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe of the NCDMB, represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Corporate Services, and PETAN’s Chairman, Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, was on hand to share practical, home-grown lessons that could benefit Namibia and other African nations aiming to deepen local content in their energy industries.
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Strategies, Successes and Practical Lessons Shared
At the Local Content Masterclass, Dr. Halilu took the stage to outline how African countries can elevate domestic capabilities in energy. He underscored what the local content value proposition means—advancements in research, technology, local employment and skills, strategic partnerships, asset ownership, value-chain optimisation, environmentally sustainable operations, procurement of local goods, and GDP growth.
He drew on Nigeria’s experience: world-class fabrication yards, targeted human capital development, manufacturing initiatives, a thriving service sector, financial support mechanisms, and the capacity to integrate floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) operations. More recent trends highlighted included promoting equipment assembly, components manufacturing, bolstering SMEs, enforcing R&D and technology transfers, and prioritising gas-based industrialisation.
Dr. Halilu painted a vivid analogy: Africa’s oil-producing nations should each hone niche strengths—much like the Boeing supply-chain model with different manufacturers creating components before assembly. This way, countries could trade among themselves and foster the manufacturing of complex oil and gas equipment continent-wide.
He wound up with practical “local content nuggets”: it’s not a sprint, but a marathon; treat local content as a viable business—not merely corporate social responsibility; ensure cost-effectiveness; tailor approaches to local peculiarities; enforce inclusion across all players, not just expatriates; and scale grassroots and underserved communities in capacity-building efforts. He also reminded the audience: without fresh projects, local content gains risk of stagnation.
Day Two: From Pillars to Policies – Learning from Nigeria’s Journey
On Day Two, the NCDMB and PETAN deepened their engagement with Namibia’s oil and gas stakeholders, setting up a prominent joint exhibition booth and reinforcing their role in Africa’s local content dialogue.
Dr. Halilu returned to share key governing pillars of Nigeria’s local content ecosystem: robust regulatory frameworks, market access, gap analysis, capacity building, incentives and funding, alongside research and development. He welcomed PETAN’s input too—highlighting that PETAN’s over 101 member companies provide crucial technologies, employ more than 30,000 Nigerians, and create a cumulative employment impact surpassing 100,000 jobs.
A milestone achievement: the implementation of Nigeria’s ten-year strategic roadmap has grown local content to 56 % as of 2025. Dr. Halilu reaffirmed the importance of capacity development, funding schemes, and accessible markets for manufacturers and service firms within the NCDMB’s strategy.
Adding depth to the narrative, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, NCDMB’s GM, Corporate Communications, joined a panel titled “Local content development: How Namibians can benefit from the oil and gas industry”. He offered lessons learned, including:
- Project 100: A phased initiative providing strategic support—financial and non-financial—to select local service companies to upscale their capacities and access markets.
- Public–private partnerships: Governments should team up with private sector players to deliver strategic, economy-focused energy projects.
- OEM linkages: Facilitate collaborations between local firms and original equipment manufacturers, while subsidising local service providers’ attendance at international conferences to expose them to new technologies and partnerships.
- Access to soft finance: Establish dedicated funding schemes offering single-digit interest loans to help local manufacturers and service providers scale.
Dr. Ezeobi also addressed early challenges—including resistance from international players sceptical of the government’s commitment, doubts over the technical capacity of local operators, or confusion about the scope of the NOGICD Act. He shared how Nigeria overhauled these obstacles through extensive stakeholder engagement, raising local service quality, and consistent delivery on new projects.
He offered a final word of encouragement: political will and policy clarity are vital, as is ensuring stakeholders understand their roles fully in the implementation process.
PETAN’s Wole Ogunsanya added his perspective: Namibian policy framers should break down large contracts into smaller, non-complex packages—allowing up-and-coming firms to compete, deliver successfully, and build capacity over time. A blueprint worth replicating.
A Conference That Connects and Empowers
Throughout the conference, the NCDMB–PETAN booth drew high-level government officials and oil sector stakeholders eager to learn about Nigeria’s local content law and implementation model. Many sought collaboration or clarified technical services they plan to introduce in Namibia’s emerging oil and gas scene.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s presence in Windhoek, it’s clear the focus was more than publicity—it was about sharing frameworks, policy blueprints, and institutional knowledge to empower African neighbours. Nigeria’s participation reinforced its willingness to partner, to train, and to collaborate in building an energy ecosystem that promotes African ownership, technical competence, and shared prosperity.
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