NCDMB: Embracing local content key to promote national development in Nigeria

The Manager, Media and Publicity of the Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB), Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, has advised that Nigerians, especially the youths, should embrace and utilize local content in order to promote national development in Nigeria, especially in the oil and gas sector. 

Dr. Ezeobi made this statement during the 2025 14th Annual Jackson Lecture of the Department of Mass communication at the Princess Alexandria Auditorium on Thursday, 20th of February themed “Local Content, National Development And Strategic Communications Imperative”.

He stressed that local content can be implemented in all sectors but because of the success that has been recorded in the oil and gas sector and how it has improved the nation’s GDP, local content has to be embraced in the oil industry to ensure rapid economic development stressing that the developed countries has often been unaware of the tremendous national benefits of local contents in the sector.

“Local content policies can be implemented in any sector, including the educational sector. Local content is popular in the Nigerian oil and gas industry because of the success in the industry and the key place of the oil sector in our national economy… Most countries introduce local content policies in their oil and gas industry to promote to promote market diversification, create employment and other social benefits and redress the poor economic performance of their countries. This is often the case because many resource-rich countries are underperforming in economic and social progress when compared to their resource-poor counterparts”. He said.

He also included other benefits of local content to be reversal of capital flight, production to meet in-country demands, opportunities for product exports, development of skilled pool of workforce, utilization of local resources, wealth creation and redistribution, expansion of the nation’s revenue base among others.

In his speech, Dr. Ezeobi also highlighted that there must be a strategic communication in developing local contents stressing that communication planners must understand the audience’s attitudes and behaviors that will support their aims.

“Strategic communication planners must have clear goals and understand the audience behaviours, attitudes and perceptions that will support their communication objectives. Such communication must consider three elements deeply: the message, target audience and the media”. Dr. Ezeobi explained.

He emphasized that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act (NOGICD) is not meant to push out foreign companies from the Nigerian oil and gas industry but support local and foreign firms alike “investing and domiciling facilities in the country to create skilled and semi-skilled jobs for Nigerians. He also explained that laws supporting the domestication of firms often lead to national development and economic progress citing that it is different from Yakubu Gowon’s Indigenization Policy of 1972 which forced out foreigners from certain businesses and enthroned Nigerians who lacked the requisite technical capacity, leading to the exit and deaths of some international firms.

The vice chancellor of the University ably represented by the associate dean of the faculty of arts, Prof. Chinwe Okpoko, applauded the department for being the hall mark of academic excellence in the faculty while commending the efforts of the head of department in ensuring that the department stands out in academic pursuit and excellence.

While underscoring the achievements in the department so far, the HOD, Prof. Michael Ukonu in his speech pointed out that the department is on an upward trajectory as it took off from the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, Prof. Joseph Wogu stressing that the department has achieved many academic feats to help better the learning experience of its students.

“Our department embarked on an upward trajectory climbing new academic milestones. We took off from a springboard laid by Prof. Joseph Wogu, my immediate predecessor. I appreciate him… Within two weeks of my tenure, the number of scholarly arsenals rose, a testament to our resolve to create an enabling environment for learning. One of our most ambitions projects is the immediate launch of our digital radio station, a grand initiative made possible through the ingenuity of Zanders Radio, Owerri; we also look forward to launching a multi-prong website to host our digital broadcast studios, online publications including the Record Newspaper, Jacksonite Magazine and departmental journal. We are equally interested in the digitization of out departmental library, this is not merely an infrastructural upgrade but a strategic step towards enhancing our visibility which sets outputs and overall academic convenience”. Prof. Ukonu said.

The event was graced by important personalities in and beyond the university including the CEO of Donjay Pharmaceuticals Company, Kano, Chief Ugwuanyi Jacob, a traditional ruler and royal father of the occasion, Igwe Lazarus Ugwuoke, High Chief Jacob Ujam, the acting vice chancellor of the university who was ably represented by the associate dean of the arts faculty, Prof. Mrs. Chinwe Okpoko and other staffs and students of the department.

The event also featured some live performances from students and presentation of awards to deserving candidates.

The Jackson Lecture is an annual event held by the department of mass communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and it is a platform where students, staffs and industry practitioners share and explore academic scholarships as it concerns the broad field of communication studies.

By Peter Okoye