The NCDMB National Undergraduate Essay Competition is an annual contest by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to engage with and understand the importance of local content in the country’s oil and gas sector.
This competition helps students explore opportunities within Nigeria’s oil industry while fostering a sense of ownership and capacity-building within local communities.
About the Essay Competition
This year’s topic, “Nigerian Content and Opportunities in African Local Content Advancement,” encourages participants to think about how Nigerian content development can influence and benefit African economies.
NCDMB’s mission is to increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry through policy, advocacy, and opportunities for local businesses. This competition helps bring awareness to that mission while engaging students to think critically about Nigeria’s role in local content development.
Background of NCDMB
Founded in 2010 under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the NCDMB has worked to implement policies that prioritize local resources and workforce in the oil and gas industry. This initiative has roots as far back as 2001, with the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Local Content. Since then, NCDMB has continued to push forward its mandate, helping Nigerians gain skills and access to jobs in the industry.
Who Can Participate?
To enter this competition, students must:
- Be currently enrolled in a 100 or 200-level program at a recognized Nigerian tertiary institution (universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education).
- Submit a valid admission letter or a signed attestation from their Head of Department (HOD). Download here.
- Register and submit their original essays through NCDMB’s official essay submission portal by October 14, 2024.
Essay Requirements
- Originality: Essays must be original work created specifically for this competition.
- Content: Essays should demonstrate clarity, a strong understanding of Nigerian content in the industry, and practical ideas for local content advancement across Africa.
- Format: All essays will be checked for plagiarism to ensure they are original.
Prizes
The competition offers substantial rewards:
- 1st Place: N1,000,000
- 2nd Place: N700,000
- 3rd Place: N500,000
- Top 10 finalists will receive laptops, and the winning essay will be published in NCDMB’s magazine, Local Content Digest.
Judging Criteria
Essays will be judged based on:
- Clarity and expression
- Originality and depth of analysis
- Spelling and grammar
- Relevance to the Nigerian oil and gas industry
- Adherence to contest rules
The award ceremony for winners will be held on November 14, 2024. This essay competition is a great opportunity for students to win educational resources while contributing ideas that could help shape Nigeria’s local content policies in oil and gas. For more information, visit the NCDMB essay portal and register to apply.