PHOTOS: NCDMB ES, Wabote Receives Delegation From British High Commission Led By Hamish Tye…details
The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote (FNSE, FIPS, FPTI), yesterday, received a delegation from the British High Commission (UK Mission) in Nigeria led by Hamish Tye, Political Secretary second, Fortune Alfred, Mathew Ayibakoru and Iniobong Udoh at the Board’s Headquarters Building, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The visit by the UK Mission in Nigeria to NCDMB is to better understand NCDMB, its mandate, functions and achievements, the work being done by NCDMB to develop Nigerian companies and also to seek avenues of collaboration with NCDMB.
Hamish stated that the UK Government is committed to supporting clean, green and sustainable economic growth in Africa. In line with that commitment, the UK has initiated a programme tagged Manufacturing Africa programme which is supporting 22 manufacturers to land investments in Nigeria, with a pipeline of $664m+ foreign direct investment (FDI). The programme supports over 120 companies across 5 countries in Africa, which are mitigating 239,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, while creating 14,000 new jobs. He noted that, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly recently visited a Nigerian e-mobility platform and electric vehicle assembler, MAX Nigeria during his Africa tour. With support from the UK-funded Manufacturing Africa programme, MAX raised $31 million to ramp up the assembly of electric two- and three-wheelers. MAX is now gearing up for a third capital raise, to fund its expansion to become a regional e-mobility player. MAX Nigeria has empowered over 21,000 drivers operating in 8 cities within Nigeria and has contributed to cutting 52 metric tons of CO2emissions from the environment. He also stated that the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery is ready to support other companies doing this groundbreaking work on the continent.
He commended the Board for its enormous investment in R&D, its promotion of innovation through its Nigerian Oil and Gas Technology Hackathon and Project100 among others which he believes provide avenues for collaboration.
Engr. @wabote_simbi provided a detailed overview of the NCDMB , its mandate and functions and some of its achievements (In Funding, R&D, Trainings, etc) in boasting the Nigerian economy. He said, the various initiatives put in my NCDMB by building capacities for the industry which is the mandate of the Board set the tune for Nigerian companies to take Centre stage in the oil and gas industry. He said the Board also in 2017, developed a 10 Years Strategic Roadmap in a bid to deliver 70% Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry by 2027 and that so far, the Board has achieved 56%. He explained the idea behind the Boards Oil and Gas Parks which is aimed at developing manufacturing hubs to help oil and gas manufacturers manufacture equipment in-country.
Engr. Wabote thanked them for the visit and assured them of the Board’s willingness to collaborate with the UK Mission in Nigeria in line with its established mandate.
Engr. Simbi Wabote was accompanied to the meeting by the Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, Director, PCAD, Barr Esueme Dan Kikile, Manager Corporate Communications and Teleola Oyeleke, Supervisor Corporate Communications all NCDMB.