By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
A two hundred Political science student, University of Ibadan, Ayotomiwa Elesho, 23-year old, from Odogbolu Ogun state
has clinched the One million prize of 6th Edition of the Annual National ungraduate Essay competition of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
23 year-old Victor Sunday from Ebonyi state, a student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka emerged second with seven hundred thousand naira, and Bayelsa born Doutimibraladei Timothy Frank, a 100 level student in the department of mechanical engineering, federal University of Otuoke emerged third, with five hundred thousand naira only
Others include Jonah Bonaventure Alidor from Ebonyi state, forth position, Abdullah Yaqub from Oyo state fifth position, Oluwafela Bibire sixth position, Osahuemwenmwen Ofumwengbe-Evba, Abosede Iyiola D, Princess Tari Tarawou and Femi Oyedele.
Speaking at the epoch making event on Wednesday, at Nostalgia Cinema, Yenagoa, the Executive Secretary Engr Simbi Wabote said, its heartwarming that NCDMB has sustained the sponsorship of this important event for six years, and speaks volume to the importance of the competition and the impact it is making among the target participants.
Represented by the Head Corporate Communication, Barr. Esueme Dan-Kikile, Wabote said, NCDMB will continue to introduce programs that will engage Nigerian youths, especially the undergraduates.
“The annual national undergraduates’ essay competition is one of NCDMB’s multiple interventions to lift the standard of education in Nigeria. It aims to promote proficiency in writing, awareness of local content and its benefit to the national economy, and to engender citizen engagement from undergraduate level.
“The topic was expected to stimulate the young ones to deploy their creativity in capturing the strategies that should be considered in transiting into cleaner energy as well as appraise the Board’s interventions in this light. I received feedbacks that the participants have done.
“As we may be aware, in March 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari declared the years 2021 to 2030 as Nigeria’s Decade of Gas and announced the Federal Government’s determination to fully exploit the nation’s abundant gas resources to accelerate the economic development of Nigeria. This declaration aligns fully with the rising global demand for cleaner energy sources.
“Also, in August 2022, the Federal Government launched the Energy Transition Plan which was applauded by the United States Government for being the first in the African Continent.
“This is why we chose the topic of this year’s competition to focus on “Strategizing for Transformation to Clean Energy Landscape: The NCDMB Intervention.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion Sen. Inatimi Rufus Spiff said, The topic for the essay competition couldn’t have been more apt. With the effects of climate change ravaging our global landscape, where nations now look for alternative sources of energy, challenging our youths in tertiary institutions to share their perspectives on, “Strategizing for Transformation to Clean Energy Landscape: The NCDMB Intervention.”
“Since its establishment, the NCDMB has impacted and enhanced local participation in the oil and gas industry in an appreciable manner.
“The era where artisans and other unskilled personnel were brought from abroad to work in the oil and gas industry even where local capacity abound has become a thing of the past.
“To NCDMB the organizing institution, I wish to thank the management and staff for the initiative which in all ramifications is worthy of emulation.”
Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, CEO of Mahogany 21st Century
Concepts Limited, consultants to the NCDMB, described the competition as one of the biggest flagship event of NCDMB, adding that the board has been supporting the competition because they have seen the success.
He said ” In the next five years, we want to see the competition grow where it will recognized all over the world so that Nigerians outside will participate in the programme”
