Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has promised that his administration will continue to support the growth and development of indigenous contractors through the implementation of favorable policies.
He made the promise at the 6th edition of the late GO Aiwerioba Lecture Series organised by the Benin branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) with the theme ‘Empowering Indigenous Contractors For Local Content Development. The Governor Godwin Obaseki Template’ which was held last weekend.
The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ferguson Enabulele said: “We can authoritatively assert that the Edo State Indigenous Contractors can now compete and execute construction projects to standard at the sub-national and national level.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬”
Going further, he asserted that “as a Government, we will continue to support the growth and development of our indigenous contractors through the implementation of favorable policies. Therefore, it is our hope that before we leave office, 80percent of the construction works in our State will be handled by our own indigenous contractors for the total benefit of the citizens of our dear State and it is expected that other governments will emulate the Edo State Tested and Trusted Template.”
In her address the keynote Speaker, Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun, the Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, said: “The history of local content acts, policies, and laws in Nigeria is marked by key milestones that aimed to promote indigenous participation and economic growth.
“In 1972, the indigenisation policy transferred ownership of foreign businesses to Nigerian entrepreneurs, ensuring greater local control. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content
Development Act of 2010 significantly improved the role of Nigerians in the oil and gas industry, with Nigerian companies executing contracts once held by multinational corporations.
“Additionally, Presidential Executive Order 5, signed in 2018, focused on
enhancing local content in public procurement with science, engineering, and technology
components, supporting Nigeria’s developmental goals and fostering innovation.
“Since the adoption of the local content act in the country, more and more indigenous companies have been able to execute contracts that were in the past opened to foreign
companies.
“Today, Nigerian companies participate in big ticket contracts in the oil and gas industry. Some of these contracts now executed by Nigerian companies were the exclusive reserve of multinational service companies in the past. As a result of the local content law, Nigerians now occupy strategic positions in oil and gas companies.”
In his own contribution, Engr. Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers(NSE) stated that the lecture is apt “as it is coming at a time NSE is keen on the promotion and implementation of the Presidential Executive Order Number 5, for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts and Science, Engineering and Technology signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, February 2, 2018.”
Chairman of the NSE Benin branch, Engr. Evukowhiroro Ojegba, in his welcome address said: “empowering indigenous contractors for local content development brings with it a multitude of benefits. It creates employment opportunities for our skilled workforce enabling them to contribute to the nation’s growth and development.”
Talking to reporters on the sideline of the lecture, Engr. Promise Nnadi, the Publicity Secretary of the NSE Benin branch said that the programme was aimed at letting Nigerians know that “we have seasoned engineers and persons in the construction industry that can handle whatever kinds of construction jobs in Nigeria over time.”
Going further, he stressed that “politicians have been using expatriates but these expatriates still depend on local engineers to do whatever they’re doing whenever they come to Nigeria to work. They use our artisans, our resources and manpower we have to do these jobs.
“The Nigeria Society of Engineers through this programme wants to let everybody knows that we have local engineers that can do every single thing that these expatriates are doing and even much more.”
Highlights of the programme include the induction of 32 new members into the NSE; award of scholarships to three engineering students and bestowing of the NSE honourary awards on some prominent personalities which included Governor Godwin Obaseki; the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engr. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar; Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun and 15 others.
Discussion about this post