The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is calling for a more aggressive push on local content policies to help grow the economy, create jobs, and speed up industrialization. This was the main message at the 2025 Annual Workshop of the Nigerian Content Development Committee (NCDC) in Abuja.
Under the theme “Strengthening Nigeria’s Domestic Business Development: Leveraging Local Content Principles for Sustainable Economic Growth”, NSE leaders emphasized that local content isn’t just about nationalism, it’s a strategic move to maximize Nigeria’s own resources for long-term growth.
Prof. Uche Okorie, a Fellow NSE and Registrar of COREN, explained that in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, local content means adding measurable value through the use of Nigerian labor, materials, and technology. But he stressed that this principle applies across sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and construction.
He argued that Nigeria should aim to shift from being mainly an importer to a producer, processor, and exporter of goods and services. To do that, local content policies must be effectively implemented, involve capacity building, access to finance, and stronger technology transfer.
Okorie also highlighted that Nigeria’s endless natural and human resources are often underutilized because of dependency on foreign supply chains. He urged both government and private sectors to prioritize Nigerian businesses and materials in all projects.
The NSE President, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, praised the work of the NCDC, emphasizing its vital role in promoting local participation, fostering innovation, and supporting Nigerian engineers toward sustainable growth.
NCDC Chairman Mr. Nnanna Ukaegbu reiterated that the committee’s goal is to identify business opportunities for engineers, helping them connect with investors and turn innovations into viable commercial projects — all within the framework of government laws and policies.
He concluded that engineers have a responsibility to leave the earth better than they found it by leveraging local content for Nigeria’s development.
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