General
Senate Pledges Adequate Support for Local Content Development
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senate has announced plans to provide adequate legislative support to drive the local content development initiatives of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Joel Onowakpo Thomas, who spoke after an oversight visit on the board facilities and projects sites within Bayelsa State commended the board for how it has implemented its enabling statute, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
The Senator said NCDMB has demonstrated the requisite capacity for actualisation of the objectives of the Act, and that the enabling environment for oil and gas industry operations, growth of indigenous businesses, job creation and development of industry-related skills, would be vigorously pursued by the Committee at the National Assembly.
The Chairman reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to growing local capacity in the oil and gas and other sectors as a sure way of creating employment.
In his word, “ let me say that the benefits of local content cannot be over emphasize. It will lead to the creation of jobs for our people, development of critical assets and skills , growth of local businesses, improve balance of payments and reduction of dependence on foreign goods services.
“To achieve these benefits, collaborations between the Senate committee and board of the NCDMB is essential as we would work closely with the NCDMB to ensure that the provisions of the Act are implemented effectively.
“The committee will not only ensure oversight but will also support the board’ in efforts to develop and implement policies that promote local content development, in addition to our collaboration with the board, we will engaged with other stakeholders and create the enabling environment that foster growth for local businesses and promote job creation.” Mr Onowakpo concluded.
Speaking on the Nigerian Content Implementation Framework, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr Felix Ogbe, highlighted Guidelines and Regulations, drawing attention to policies and tools, which included Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualifications System (NOGIC JQS), Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF), industry collaboration, as well as gap analysis, among other things.
Represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Abdulmalik Halilu, he disclosed the board’s has recorded success in the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF) managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI) with over ninety percent repayment.
Mr Halilu highlighted some recent striking accomplishments of the Board as facilitating of 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) capacity galvanising plant, commissioned at Daewoo Yard, Port Harcourt, which has ramped up local galvanizing capacity to over 180,000MT; NEDO 300 MMscfd Kwale Gas Gathering Plant, Delta State; NCDMB Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) at Emeyal 1, Bayelsa State, and Odukpani, Cross River State, which are at 90 per cent completion level;10 mega watt Power Plant, and EGINA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) integration facility, the first and largest in Africa.
Speaking on the next phase, Mr Halilu highlighted the board’s ongoing construction of the NCDMB Gas Hub for gas-based industries and the work on its eight industrial parks across the country as well as the human capacity development programme christened Back-to-the-Creeks Initiative.
He asked the legislatures to support the board by excluding of the Nigerian Content Development Fund from revenue deductions in line with Section 104 of the NOGICD Act.
He also added that the board would also want the challenge of infrastructure to be addressed as well as a strengthening of local content laws by ensuring that legislations for the growth of other sectors are properly aligned with local content philosophy.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The 16th Honours Nite of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos State Branch, received the full backing of Stanbic IBTC Capital, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings.
The company sponsored the event, which brought together industry leaders, corporate partners, and public sector decision-makers in the real estate sector.
It was an avenue to recognise and celebrate exceptional achievements in the real estate and development ecosystem.
The chairman of NIESV in Lagos, Mr Gbenga Ismail, while addressing guests at the programme themed Inspiring Excellence, Shaping the Future, said, “Honours Nite gives us the chance to highlight the excellence and integrity inherent in our profession. While we celebrate today’s achievers, we set a precedent for a future that embraces innovation.”
The chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Oladele Sotubo, stated, “At Stanbic IBTC Capital, we believe that excellence in the real estate sector is necessary for sustainable growth and community development.
“By supporting events like the NIESV Honours Nite, we underscore our commitment to recognising and empowering the professionals who shape our built environment.
“Together, we can inspire innovation and uphold the highest standards, ensuring a future where quality housing and ethical practices thrive in Nigeria.”
Also, the Head of Real Estate Finance for West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Capital, Mr Tola Akinhanmi, expressed pride in supporting professionals and developers dedicated to providing high-quality housing solutions.
“These awards recognise projects that meet significant market demands and symbolise the progressive vision for the future of real estate in Nigeria,” he said.
At the ceremony, Stanbic IBTC Capital was announced as the winner of the Residential Development of the Period Award. This was for projects that demonstrated significant market influence and superior execution.
Biufort Homes Limited’s Greenwich Gardens (Ketu) won the Silver Award, while UPDC Plc’s The Hampshire earned the Gold Award for its outstanding design, execution, and strategic contribution to the premium residential landscape.
The collaboration between Stanbic IBTC Capital and the group highlights the importance of excellence in the real estate sector.
It sets a foundation for future innovations and advancements especially in underweight asset classes such as the residential sector which will help to catalyse developments and further bridge the housing supply gap in Nigeria.
This further underpins Stanbic IBTC’s value proposition and support to stimulate home ownership and acquisition via our end-to-end product offering including construction/development finance, insurance and various home loan packages which creates effective demand.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The third season of the YouTube series of Anzisha, The Journey, will focus on 30 very young entrepreneurs across Africa.
The documentary series will provide an uncensored glimpse into the grit of the small business owners, letting the viewers know the hurdles, strategic pivots, and moments of leadership that define their journeys.
With over 1.13 million YouTube views last season, The Journey S3 promises to be even more impactful.
This season culminates in a high-stakes pitch competition where four prizes totalling $40,000 will be awarded to the most promising entrepreneurs.
This intense pitch week in Johannesburg, South Africa, is where young founders refine their ideas, validate the work they’ve done over the last two years, and battle for prizes that can transform their ventures.
Viewers will see entrepreneurs navigate uncertainty when faced with unpredictability. These young leaders, aged 15 to 22, come from across Africa, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Madagascar, Benin, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Egypt, DR Congo, and Senegal.
Their ventures span across numerous sectors, from agriculture and food processing to technology, logistics, and personal care, clearly reflecting innovation across the continent.
The series showcases them building sustainable ecosystems that extend beyond financial returns and redefining leadership through inclusive and purpose-driven businesses.
The Managing Director of Anzisha, Didi Onwu, said, “The Journey season 3 is more than just a series; it’s a window into the future of African enterprise.
“It showcases the dedication, innovation, and resilience of young entrepreneurs who are not just building businesses but transforming their communities.”
The Journey’s season 3 offers a rich tapestry of experiences from a broad group of young African entrepreneurs.
Viewers will see the reality of their experiences, the balance of vision and execution, innovation and sustainability, and personal ambition driven by a desire to address gaps within their communities.
This season deepens understanding of the African entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing an honest look at the complexity of developing businesses in emerging markets.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is already developing a robust Green Methanol Industrial Complex, the highest in Africa and is seeking Brazilian partnership in design, certification and feedstock optimisation for socio-economic development of the country.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, during a visit of the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Gracete, to his office in Abuja, said under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry was driving reforms that will place innovation at the center of job creation, industrial growth and national competitiveness for economic development.
He emphasised that the efforts are being made to mechanize agro-processing and unlock the full potential of cassava, sugarcane and soybean value chain for the betterment of the citizens, reaffirming that the country is ready to work closely with Brazil to co-create inclusive, sustainable and high impact innovation projects.
On his part, the Director-General of the National Space Development Research Agency, NASRDA, Mr Matthew Adepoju while speaking, said that the agency is expanding Nigeria’s satellite capabilities and therefore seeks collaboration with Brazil’s national Institutes for Space Agencies on areas of Remote Sensing, Climate Monitoring, Land Use Analytics, Border Security and Disaster Response.
Also, the envoy said the purpose of the visit was to deepen bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil in key areas through technology, innovation driven development and trade relationships.
Methanol fuel is an alternative biofuel for internal combustion and other engines. It has chemical and physical fuel properties similar to ethanol and current research now focuses on the use as a sustainable marine fuel that will contribute to economic diversification of the country.
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