The African Petroleum Producers Organization, APPO, has congratulated Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, for winning the maiden African Champion of Local Content Award organized by the Rwanda based African Heritage Concerts and Awards. Engr Wabote received the award over the weekend in Kigali together with other great sons of Africa including former President of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
In a letter to Engr Wabote, the APPO Secretary General Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim said that “we are very pleased to see that others have also seen in you what APPO has long since recognized – that total commitment to addressing the major challenges bedeviling the African oil and gas industry, namely over dependence on foreign technology, expertise, funding and markets.’
He added that `this recognition is most timely. For, now, more than ever, African oil and gas producing countries need to domesticate the technology, expertise and financing of the industry if we are to continue to benefit from the abundant proven oil and gas reserves of over 125 billion barrels and over 600 trillion cubic feet respectively, that God has endowed us with. Failing that, we risk categorizing these huge wealth as stranded assets. This is because the people that we have for nearly a century depended on for the technology, expertise and funding of the industry have decided to abandon the industry in the name of energy transition.’
Dr Ibrahim stated that APPO is working to establish a forum for all institutions responsible for local content development in its Member Countries with a view to synergizing and enhancing cooperation and collaboration and minimizing unnecessary duplication of efforts. As always, I trust NCDMB to be fully on board. Dr Ibrahim commended the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the NCDMB, and Wabote for the exemplary leadership that NCDMB under Wabote has been providing in local content development not only in Nigeria but across Africa.