Niger Delta

NCDMB Partners Varsities, Others On Research, Development

Published

4 years ago

December 8, 2021

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB has said it is willing to partner with more universities and other research institutions towards the development of the nation’s hydrocarbon industry.
This, the board stated yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital at a workshop it organised for media stakeholders.
The Tide which monitored the exercise reports that the NCDMB Director for Research, Planning and Statistics, Patrick Daziba Obah stated this during his paper presentation tagged: ‘R&D As Pathway for Deepening Nigerian Content Implementation.”
The 2021 NCDMB capacity building workshop for media stakeholders had as its theme, ‘Sustaining Nigerian Content Amidst Shifting Energy Landscape: The Role Of The Media”.
Obah noted that no oil producing country could maximise its energy potentials without research and planning, saying that following the importance the board attaches to the development of the oil and gas sector, the board has set aside USD50,000,000 for research and development in the industry.
He expressed worry that though the research fund was depleting due to the figures already deployed for Research in various institutions, the NCDMB was confident that the harvest obtainable from the deployment of the funds was enormous.
“The NCDMB has set up research centres through partnership with various universities in Nigeria in partnership with some of the IOCs. We’ve partnered with the federal universities of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Akure and Minna. We’ve other centres of excellence in the University of Port Harcourt, the Niger Delta University and we hope to add more to our list of partnership”.
“But we needed more partnership with other organisations in terms of increasing the depleting research funds”, he said.
Earlier in an opening remark, the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination of the NCDMB, Dr Ginah Ginah scored the board high on its achievements, saying that the rationale behind the setting up of the content board is being achieved gradually.
He noted that the various oil and gas infrastructure under execution in different parts of the country, some inaugurated and others at various phases of completion were a direct result of the board’s willingness to change the narrative of the oil and gas sector for the better, commending the media for its roles and partnership with the board towards the development of the oil and gas industry.
Highpoints of the programme were presentations by two academics of the University of Port Harcourt, Professors Aniefiok Udoudo of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies and Chijioke Nwaozuzu of the university’s Emerald Energy Institute, which were tagged, ‘Retooling Competencies for the Changing Media Landscape’ and Dissecting the Petroleum Industry Act(PIA), respectively.
Meanwhile, in a recap of the presentations at the event, the Manager, Corporate Communications of the NCDMB, Barr. Naboth Onyesoh commended the lead presenters and other participants for making the event meaningful.
He added that the importance of the media to ensuring a stronger and virile content board cannot be over emphasized, noting that the board was headed towards better partnership with the media and other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Okpebholo Assures Corps Members Of Improved Welfare

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has assured corps members deployed to the state of improved welfare and a supportive service year.

Okpebholo gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream I corps members last Friday at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp in Okada.

The Governor also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, safety and entrepreneurship.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Mrs. Charity Amayaenvbo, the Governor urged corps members to embrace innovation, community service and self-reliance rather than wait for white-collar jobs.

“Edo is committed to supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and incentives that turn ideas into enterprises.

“Do not wait for jobs, create value. Wherever you are posted, serve your host community with humility, dedication and compassion.

“Have a positive footprint and let your service contribute to unity, productivity and progress,” he said.

Okpebholo assured the corps members that the state government was attentive to their welfare and had started addressing key concerns raised by the NYSC leadership.

“On behalf of the state government, I assure you of our support in terms of safety, an enabling environment and a rewarding service year.

“I listened carefully to the requests highlighted by the state coordinator, and I am glad to inform you that some of them have already been captured in the 2026 budget, which has been approved and signed into law,” he said.

The Governor noted that provisions for accommodation, meal subsidies, logistics and the construction of a multipurpose hall at the camp were included in the budget.

Earlier in her address, the Edo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Dr. Frances Ben-Ushie, described the ceremony as a reflection of the state government’s commitment to youth development and national integration.

Ben-Ushie said as of midnight on Thursday, a total of 1,235 prospective corps members, comprising 531 males and over 700 females, had been duly registered.

She congratulated the corps members on their enlistment into what she described as a “noble scheme,” urging them to embrace discipline, learning and active participation throughout the orientation course.

“The NYSC platform provides a unique avenue to meet people from diverse backgrounds, build lifelong friendships and create networks that can open doors to greater opportunities,” she said.

Ben-Ushie also highlighted the contributions of the NYSC to the state’s development, noting that the scheme had consistently provided skilled manpower, promoted labour mobility and strengthened national unity.

She cited initiatives such as the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers and the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme as key interventions benefiting communities across the state.

The NYSC coordinator commended the state government for its support, including the provision of buses for corps members, and appealed for further intervention to address lingering operational challenges at the orientation camp.

She expressed confidence that resolving the issues would enhance the effectiveness of NYSC programmes in the state and thanked the Governor for prioritising the welfare, security and growth of corps members.

Niger Delta

PDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

The Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday condemned the state government’s reported plan to establish a state-owned airline.

The party, in a statement by its Edo State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dan Osa-Ogbegie, described the proposal as a misplaced priority and evidence of poor, disconnected governance.

The Tide’s source reports that the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, unveiled the airline plan during a meeting with Aviation Minister, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in Abuja.

Osa-Ogbegie said the proposal showed a government out of touch with the pressing challenges confronting Edo State residents.

“At a time of decaying infrastructure and stalled projects, establishing an airline is unrealistic and profoundly insensitive”, he said.

He argued that airlines were capital-intensive and technically demanding, noting that similar state-owned ventures in Nigeria had largely failed.

According to him, Benin has become a shadow of what a modern state capital should be.

He decried poor roads, collapsed urban planning, neglected drainage systems and weak municipal services across the state capital.

“This is a crying shame for a city of Benin’s history, heritage and enormous potential”, he said.

Osa-Ogbegie said several inherited projects had stalled or deteriorated, eroding investor confidence and undermining economic growth.

He accused the governor of pursuing “white elephant projects that offer optics without substance.”

He also cited ongoing flyover projects in parts of Benin as examples of poor prioritisation.

Against this background, he described the airline proposal as diversionary and lacking economic sense.

“When roads are barely motorable and services overstretched, proposing an airline betrays an absence of judgment,” he said.

He urged the government to abandon the plan and focus on people-centred priorities that would improve living conditions and spur growth.

“Edo does not need an airline to fly above its problems. It needs a government ready to confront them on the ground,” he said.

He warned that failure to refocus would deepen perceptions of an administration lacking direction, competence and a coherent development agenda.

Niger Delta

Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River

Published

1 day ago

January 28, 2026

The Tide

Students of Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State, have protested to the Governor’s Office in Calabar over an alleged plan to appoint a non-indigene as Rector for the institution.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the students demanded respect for catchment area policy, local content, and the appointment of an indigene of the state as Rector of the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the students in Calabar, Stephen Etem said the protest sought to alert the Federal and Cross River State Governments to an alleged deviation from the established rectorial selection process.

Etem said a Governing Council, chaired by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, was constituted by the Federal Government to conduct the Rector selection exercise.

“The screening, which began last year, reportedly produced a Cross River State indigene as highest scorer and recommended candidate.

“Information available to us suggests that the alleged recommended candidate’s name might be substituted at the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We urge the Federal Government to uphold the council’s recommendation because altering the process could threaten peace in the institution,” he noted.

Responding at the Government House, Mr. Goddie Akpama, the Special Adviser on Intelligence to the State Governor, Bassey Otu, appealed for calm, saying the Governor was away but would be briefed.

Akpama advised the students to submit written petitions through appropriate channels, avoid inflammatory language, and engage authorities to ensure stability and uninterrupted academic activities.