L-R: Second prize winner, 2026 NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition, Ms. Joy Oghogho Enogieru; General Manager, Corporate Communications Division (CCD), Dr. Obinna Ezeobi; top prize winner, Mr. Wisdom David Fabunmi; Chief Executive Officer of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, and third prize winner Mr. Ahmadu Kodan Yusuf.Pix 6. Top nine finalists of the NCDMB Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition.
By Peace Udugba
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has awarded ₦1 million, a laptop and a plaque to Wisdom David Fabunmi, a 200-level Physiotherapy student of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, for emerging overall winner of its 10th Annual National Undergraduate Essay Competition.
Fabunmi emerged winner at the 2026 edition of the competition, whose award and prize-giving ceremony was held on Thursday at the NCDMB Conference Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The competition attracted about 5,000 entries from students across 52 universities in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Joy Oghogho Enogieru, a 100-level Doctor of Optometry student at the University of Benin, Edo State, emerged first runner-up and received ₦700,000, a laptop and a plaque.
Ahmadu Kodan Yusuf, a 100-level Law student at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, came third and received ₦500,000, a laptop and a plaque. Participants who finished between fourth and ninth positions also received consolation prizes.
The competition’s theme was “Promoting Manufacturing for Sustainable Local Content Development.” It seeks to encourage research, critical thinking, effective communication and intellectual engagement among Nigerian undergraduates.
NCDMB Highlights Importance of Youth Development
Representing the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, at the ceremony, the General Manager of the Corporate Communications Division, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, said the competition supports the Board’s mandate to develop human and material capacity while monitoring compliance with local content requirements in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that the Board implements its capacity-building mandate through several initiatives, including direct-intervention training programmes for graduates and artisans in technical and non-technical skills.
The programmes also include project-based human capital development, which provides on-the-job training opportunities on active projects in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010.
Ezeobi said universities play a critical role in developing ideas, examining societal problems, encouraging innovation and generating solutions that contribute to national development.
He added that the Board established the essay competition to engage students and encourage them to think critically about Nigerian Content and its contribution to economic growth.
According to him, young Nigerians have the ideas, commitment and ingenuity required to advance the country’s local content agenda.
Board Expands Youth Development Initiatives
Ezeobi listed other NCDMB initiatives designed to promote research, innovation and technical skills among students in higher institutions.
These include Research Centres of Excellence at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Federal University of Technology, Minna; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State; University of Port Harcourt, Choba; University of Ibadan; and Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.
He also highlighted the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad, which seeks to inspire innovation among engineering students and whose maiden edition concluded in July 2026.
Another initiative is the Nigerian Oil and Gas Readiness Training programme, through which 10,000 young Nigerians are being trained in 10 priority skills required for emerging projects in the industry.
The Board’s Catch-the-Researcher-Young Programme (CRYP) was also identified as a digital research capacity-development initiative designed to equip undergraduates with modern technology skills, advanced research methods and industry-relevant digital competencies.
Manufacturing Key to Sustainable Local Content
Explaining the significance of this year’s essay theme, Ezeobi said the competition was designed to challenge students to examine ways Nigeria could strengthen its productive capacity and generate greater economic value.
He described manufacturing as the bedrock of sustainable local content development, noting that the NCDMB established the Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS) to support the manufacturing of components used in the oil and gas industry.
He also cited the Nigerian Content Equipment Commitment (NCEC), a policy that requires companies to demonstrate their manufacturing capabilities and capacity to execute key activities before accessing contract opportunities in the industry.
NCDMB Celebrates a Decade of Investing in Ideas
Earlier, the programme consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Mahogany 21st Century Concepts Limited, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, described the ceremony as a celebration of a decade of investment in ideas by the Board.
He expressed satisfaction with the quality of entries submitted by the students, saying their contributions demonstrated the potential of Nigeria’s younger generation.
Omorozi said the NCDMB’s responsibilities extended beyond infrastructure development and regulatory compliance to include nurturing the intellectual capacity of young Nigerians.
In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Professor Promise Mebine, commended the Board for sustaining the competition and remaining committed to its objectives.
He said developing Nigerian Content was not limited to building pipelines and platforms but also involved investing in people, particularly young Nigerians who would lead the country in the future.
Mebine congratulated the winners and encouraged them to see their awards as opportunities to pursue greater achievements.
He also urged other contestants not to be discouraged by their positions, stressing that participation in the competition had helped them develop their research, writing and critical-thinking abilities.
In a goodwill message, the Director of the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, commended the Executive Secretary, the Corporate Communications Division and the programme consultant for their efforts in sustaining the competition.
He noted that the initiative had continued to benefit both the Board and participating students.
The 10th edition further highlighted the importance of investing in young Nigerians, promoting local manufacturing and strengthening the country’s capacity to produce goods and components required by key industries.
Tags: NCDMB, Wisdom David Fabunmi, Nigerian Content, Essay Competition 2026, Local Manufacturing, Youth Development, Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry
