Education
NCDMB Holds 5th Book Programme Tasks Nigerians On Reading, Critical Thinking
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, has said that sustainable national development will remain elusive unless Nigerians build a stronger culture of reading, critical thinking and continuous learning.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stated this on Tuesday at the Conference Centre of the Nigerian Content Tower, Swali, Yenagoa, during the fifth edition of the NCDMB Book Reading Programme.
Ogbe, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the Board’s quarterly reading initiative was a deliberate policy to promote learning and the exchange of ideas among citizens.
“Books give us the opportunity to learn from the experiences and knowledge of others, and to engage issues from different perspectives,” he said, adding that the programme was designed to “bring people together to share ideas.”
He stressed that the mandate of the NCDMB should not be viewed narrowly as technical participation in the oil and gas industry, noting that Nigerian Content also entails building intellectual and institutional capacities for meaningful national participation.
According to him, “We support businesses, we develop institutions; we also create opportunities for Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the energy sector; we enable thought processes, and we enable people to enhance their intellectual capacities.”
He insisted that human capital development must go beyond technical and professional skills, urging Nigerians to “read widely” and “think critically.”
The event brought together members of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, Bayelsa State Chapter, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, academics and university undergraduates.
The centrepiece of the discussion was veteran journalist and strategic communication expert, Mr. Paul C. Nwabuikwu, and his 2025 publication, _The Pain and the Promise: Insights and Fragments on Nigeria and People, Public and Personal, 1990-2025._
Excerpts from selected chapters were read and subjected to interactive sessions that explored politics, journalism, national development and the writer’s responsibility to society.
Fielding questions, Nwabuikwu said his over three decades of column writing was driven by the need to add depth and context to events, noting that “Journalism is the first draft of history.”
He reflected on Nigeria’s intervention in Liberia and Sierra Leone through ECOMOG, questioning its strategic return despite costing about $8 billion, as disclosed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in October 1999.
On his use of humour, Nwabuikwu described it as “an escape valve” for journalists under military rule, saying, “When you are writing under a military ruler who was not famous for letting his enemies escape, you have to find a way of making your point that readers are sure of what you are saying but _Oga_ is not annoyed enough to deal with you.”
He advised younger writers to develop authentic voices, urging them: “Be yourself; don’t try to write like other people,” and to write only on subjects they are passionate about.
The Book Reading Programme, which started in August 2024 with Azu Ishiekwene, has previously featured Dayo Oketola, King Bubaraye Dakolo, Agada IV, and Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as part of NCDMB’s drive to strengthen literacy and intellectual engagement beyond fabrication yards and oil platforms.
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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has reaffirmed his commitment to driving sustainable transformation in the state’s education sector, describing his appointment as a call to service that must be discharged with humility, integrity and dedication.
Nwagor spoke last Friday, at a Special Reception Banquet organised in his honour by the Rivers State Chapter of the Mangrove People Leadership Initiative, MAPLI, at the Voyage Hotel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt.
He declared that education remains fundamental to the future of Rivers State, stressing that every child deserves access to quality education, a safe and conducive learning environment, and the opportunity to develop his or her God-given potential.
According to him, achieving meaningful and lasting progress in the sector requires the collective efforts of government and critical stakeholders, including professional bodies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, the private sector and community-based groups.
Nwagor noted that the reception was more than a celebration of his person, but an affirmation of the core values of leadership, service, friendship and collective responsibility which MAPLI promotes.
He expressed profound gratitude to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment as Commissioner for Education.
The Commissioner also thanked the leadership and members of MAPLI for recognising his service as the State Vice Chairman of the organisation and for celebrating his transition into public office.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of MAPLI, Rivers State Chapter, Chief Dr. Adokiene Tam-Micah Igbile, described Dr. Nwagor as a humble and dedicated leader who has positively impacted all those who have come in contact with him.
In his remarks, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Sunny Ewule, described the Commissioner as a round peg in a round hole, noting that he has already initiated remarkable improvements in the education sector and that Governor Fubara made no mistake in his appointment.
In her goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mina Tele Ikuru, described Nwagor as a purposeful leader with listening ears, expressing optimism that under his guidance and the visionary leadership of Governor Fubara, the education sector would witness significant transformation in the months ahead.
Akujobi Amadi
Sixteen law faculties of universities across the Niger Delta region have been locked horn in the2026 moot court competition organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Speaking at the opening session of the competition recently at the port Harcourt law school,the chairman of the the governing council of NDDC Board,Chiedu Ebie
reaffirmed the commitment of the commission to strengthening legal education and human-capacity development as key drivers of sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
Ebie emphasised the strategic role of legal advocacy in shaping confident and competent legal minds capable of addressing the challenges confronting the region.
He explained that the moot court competition, originally conceived as an annual programme, was suspended for about eight years before its revival by the current Governing Board.
According to him the 2026 edition marks the third consecutive annual edition organised under the present Board, reflecting its renewed commitment to education and human-capacity development.
The NDDC Board Chairman also used the opportunity to highlight its foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, through which 200 indigent Niger Delta students below the age of 40 are selected annually to undertake one-year postgraduate programmes abroad.
“The NDDC spends about $40,000 per beneficiary, in addition to a pre-departure grant of approximately ?6.5 million to support related expenses.”
He disclosed that 51 beneficiaries graduated with distinctions in 2023, while 59 recorded distinctions in 2024. The Commission said the high number of applications—more than 10,000 for only 200 available places—prompted it to introduce a domestic postgraduate scholarship programme, under which 1,000 deserving students receive ?5 million each to pursue postgraduate studies in Nigerian institutions.
Beyond scholarships, the NDDC ,he said was also investing in university infrastructure, particularly student accommodation. It cited the construction of a 200-bed hostel at Niger Delta University, Amassoma, and disclosed plans to undertake similar projects at the University of Benin and the University of Delta, Abraka.
The Commission further linked the moot and mock trial competition to its broader efforts to use law and legal advocacy to identify and address development challenges in the Niger Delta. It recalled its recent Law and Development Summit, which brought together civil leaders and development experts to examine the relationship between law and sustainable development.
It declared that the competition was not merely about winning, but about equipping future lawyers to use the law and courtroom advocacy to contribute to solving the region’s challenges.
Also speaking,the managing director and chief executive officer NDDC,Dr Samuel Ogbuku
Urged Law Students to Deploy Legal Skills for Regional Development and reaffirmed its commitment to human-capacity development and legal education in the Niger Delta region, describing moot court competitions as critical platforms for equipping aspiring lawyers with practical advocacy skills.
Represented by the Director of finance and Admin,Hon BOMA Iyaye ,the MD/CEO urged participating students to look beyond winning the competition and consider how their legal knowledge could contribute to the sustainable development of the region.
According to him , the continued hosting of the competition reflects the Commission’s commitment to strengthening the educational potential and human-capacity development of the region.
He noted that, from his interactions with participants over the years, moot court competitions had played a crucial role in legal education by helping students acquire knowledge, advocacy skills and practical experience needed for their future careers.
Presenting her keynote address,a retired Supreme court justice, justice Mary Ukaego Odili (rtd)
urged law students to embrace moot court competitions as a veritable platform for developing practical advocacy skills and building confidence before entering the legal profession.
Justice mary odili said competitions of such nature were essential to bridging the gap between classroom learning and the realities of legal practice
She said young lawyers must be given opportunities to test their knowledge, make mistakes and learn from them in a safe environment, stressing that confidence in advocacy could only be developed through practical experience in presenting and defending legal positions.
According to her, the initiative would contribute significantly to the development of legal education in the region while drawing attention to challenges peculiar to the Niger Delta through academic legal competitions.
She commended the organisers for initiating the competition and called on faculties of law across the region to take moot court activities seriously and invest adequately in them.
In his good will message ,the 30th NBA president ,Mr Olumide Akpata commended the management of Nddc for the initiative, noting that the commission deserves to be recognised and applauded.
He advised the competing students to understand the competition is more than winning a trophy or emerging as the best team but an opportunity to prepare themselves for the responsibilities that come with becoming members of the legal profession.
“As you participate ,learn to research thoroughly, think independently, listen carefully, speak confidently, and argue respectfully.A good lawyer is the one who understands the law, understands the facts, presents a clear argument, and remains respectful even when confronted with an opposing view.” he stated.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas (FPOG), Bonny, Rivers State, has approved a reduction in the duration of its National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) part-time programmes from three years to two years, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The decision was taken at the institution’s Academic Board meeting held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, as part of measures to improve academic delivery and expand access to quality technical education.
Under the new arrangement, part-time students will undertake intensive lectures from Monday to Saturday, in line with the redesigned curriculum and timetable approved by the Academic Board.
The Polytechnic said the revised structure had been carefully designed to provide students with adequate instructional contact hours while enabling them to complete their respective programmes within the new two-year period.
The development is expected to improve the efficiency of the institution’s part-time programmes and provide students with a more flexible academic structure without compromising the required standards of teaching and learning.
According to the Polytechnic, the reform is also aimed at supporting students who combine their education with work, business and other responsibilities, while ensuring that they receive rigorous technical and academic training.
The institution reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement in academic delivery and the provision of quality technical education, as it implements the new two-year structure for part-time ND and HND programmes from the 2026/2027 academic session.
