Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, GCON, was on Wednesday night honoured with the prestigious Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award at the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner, held in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.The ceremony, organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), marked one of the high points of the 12th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum, the flagship annual gathering of key stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.The award was presented to Dr. Jonathan in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the promotion and institutionalization of Nigerian content policy during his tenure as president. Under his administration, local content development received a significant boost, including the enactment and enforcement of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act of 2010, which gave legal backing to indigenous participation in the industry.Receiving the award, Dr. Jonathan expressed deep appreciation to the NCDMB for the honour, stating that he remains proud of the strides Nigeria has made in local content growth. He emphasized the importance of building capacity and empowering Nigerians to take charge of the country’s natural resources through innovation, investment, and education.> “This award is not just a personal honour but a recognition of the collective efforts made by my administration and patriotic Nigerians who believed in the vision of developing our local content capacities,” he said.The event, held at the NCDMB headquarters in Swali, Yenagoa, was attended by top government officials, industry captains, traditional rulers, and international partners. It featured speeches, award presentations, and cultural performances that celebrated Nigeria’s rich heritage and resourcefulness.Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, noted that the award bestowed on the former president was well deserved, given the policy frameworks and leadership support that laid the foundation for what is now a globally recognized local content success story.> “Dr. Jonathan’s administration made bold decisions that have positively transformed the oil and gas sector. Today, Nigerian companies are playing leading roles across upstream, midstream, and downstream segments, thanks to the visionary leadership we had then,” Engr. Ogbe said.The Champions of Nigerian Content Awards Dinner is held annually to celebrate individuals, organizations, and leaders who have made exceptional contributions to Nigerian content development, local capacity building, and economic growth.Dr. Jonathan’s honour not only underscores his enduring legacy in national development but also inspires current and future leaders to champion homegrown solutions across all sectors.
