Press Releases /
By ncdmb
A second
year Political Science student of the University of Ibadan, Mr. Ayotomiwa
Elesho has won N1 million prize in the 6th Annual National Undergraduate Essay
Competition sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board
(NCDMB).
Winners of
the essay competition were celebrated at the award ceremony held in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State on Wednesday.
The essay by
the 23-year-old was adjudged the best amongst over 2000 entries submitted by
undergraduates who must be within their first and 2nd year in
the university.
Victor
Sunday, a 200 level Law student of University of Nigeria, Nsukka emerged second
and won a cash prize of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N700,000.00), while
the Bayelsa born Doutimibraladei Timothy Frank, a 100 level student in the
department of mechanical engineering, Federal University of Otuoke emerged
third and won a cash prize of Five Hundred Thousand naira.
Each of
participants wrote an essay on, “Strategizing for Transformation to Clean
Energy Landscape: The NCDMB Intervention.”
Speaking at
the event, the Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote noted that the
annual national undergraduates’ essay competition is one of Board’s multiple
interventions to improve the standard of education in Nigeria as well as
promote proficiency in writing, awareness of local content and its benefit to
the national economy.
Wabote was
represented by the Manager Corporate Communication, Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile
pointed out that the Board continue to prioritize the sponsorship of the
competition because of the need to inculcate Local Content consciousness among
undergraduates in our higher institutions.
While
speaking on the choice of the topic for the year, Esueme said, “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.”
He hinted
that 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
regard.
He stressed
that the Board will continue to introduce programs that will engage Nigerian
youths, especially the undergraduates.
Earlier in
his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Sen. Inatimi Rufus Spiff said, the
choice of the topic for the competition is timely as the effects of climate
change ravaging our global landscape is making nations consider alternative
sources of energy.
He commended
the Board for consciously impacting and enhancing local participation in the
oil and gas industry in an appreciable manner. In his words, “I wish to thank
the management and staff for the initiative which in all ramifications is
worthy of emulation. 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 through the effort of the
Board.”