By David Owei, Yenagoa.

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P) recently launched the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), an engineering competition aimed at addressing at inspiring engineering students to develop innovative projects that will solve societal problems.

The project is championed by Enactus Nigeria and has the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) as key partner.Explaining the concept, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, stated that the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad will inspire final-year, and postgraduate engineering students to envision and build a self-reliant Nigeria driven by knowledge, innovation, and collaboration.

“The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad embodies our belief that innovation must be nurtured where it begins, in the minds of young engineers.” He added that “by connecting academic creativity with industry realities, NEO provides the bridge that transforms knowledge into impact, and ideas into enterprise.”

In his remarks the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the programme’s theme, “Inspiring Engineering Solutions,” aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy.

Engr. Ogbe highlighted that, despite Nigeria’s large population offering immense potential, the engineering sector continues to grapple with a critical skills gap. He noted a negligible percentage of engineering graduates are considered industry-ready upon graduation.

He warned that this deficit has far-reaching implications, including a shortage of competent local engineers, over-reliance on expatriates, and an accelerating brain drain.

Represented by the Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, the NCDMB boss explained that the Olympiad complements the agency’s human capacity development initiatives, which have trained young Nigerians in petroleum engineering, digital technology, robotics, and other advanced fields.

“Our goal is to institutionalise an annual national platform that identifies, nurtures, and supports exceptional engineering talent while connecting participants to industry mentorship and commercialisation pathways,” he stated.

He added that the Board is equally committed to strengthening entrepreneurial and leadership skills to enable young engineers to thrive in the workforce or launch technology-driven enterprises.

The Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, who was represented by Ms. Ebiho Agun, described the creativity and ingenuity of Nigerian youth as one of the country’s greatest assets in a world increasingly driven by science, innovation, and problem-solving.

She noted that the Olympiad provides a vital platform for young Nigerians to expand their imagination, deepen technical expertise, and showcase excellence both locally and internationally.

Addressing the students as “the heartbeat of Nigeria’s future,” she urged participants to view the competition as an opportunity for learning, discovery, and career advancement, while reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to expanding programmes that foster youth creativity, skills development, and mentorship.

The General Manager, Integrated Gas at First E&P, Engr. Yetunde Taiwo, said the company’s participation reflects its core values of nurturing talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship. While First E&P has long supported education at the secondary-school level, she explained, the Olympiad offers a unique opportunity to engage university-level engineering students and expose them to real-world industry challenges.

Expressing concern over the growing brain drain, Taiwo noted that many graduates emigrate due to limited opportunities to apply their skills locally. She emphasised that initiatives like the Olympiad, supported by strong government-industry collaboration, can create sustainable career pathways, help retain talent, and reassure young engineers that viable opportunities exist within Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by Engr. Amino Hamisu, hailed the Olympiad as a landmark step toward strengthening engineering excellence and advancing national technological development.

In her keynote address, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Ogunsola, described the Olympiad as a “watershed moment” in bridging the gap between academia and industry.

She called it a national innovation incubator designed to transform final-year engineering projects into commercially viable products through structured mentorship, prototype development, and intellectual property support.

She confirmed that NSE will provide expert guidance to ensure students’ innovations meet global standards.How the Olympiad Will OperateApplications opened on 20 November 2025 and will close on 11 January 2026.The competition will proceed as follows:-Screening Level 1 – Intra-school competition, one winner per schoolFollowing submission, selected teams will receive technical mentorship and access to development resources to refine their concepts into prototypes.

Screening Level 2 – Regional inter-school contests, 5 schools will qualify per region – each team showcasing innovation aligned with national priorities.- 30 teams will emerge in total, 5 per region and they will advance to a mentorship and prototyping phase.

The teams will receive funding and technical mentorship to develop their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Screening Level 3 –Twelve (12) teams will advance to the semi-finals – 2 teams per region will go into an intensive mentorship and business development boot camp for prototype refinementScreening Level 4 –The Olympiad will culminate in a national grand finale, where four winners will emerge as the top innovations. Grand finale, is scheduled for 11 April 2026.

By David Owei

Inline with its strategic engagement policy with relevant stakeholders in the fight against vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has disclosed plans to partner the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on the sensitisation of youths in the region against drug abuse.

The company said the sensitisation would help curb the growing menace of drug abuse and addiction amongst youths in the region which has led many into actions that threaten peace and productivity in the Eastern Corridor.

Dr. Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations, PINL, stated this at its November stakeholders meeting with host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) in Bayelsa state.

He said the decision by the company followed request by stakeholders at its previous meeting, stressing that the sensitisation will be carried out in conjunction with the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, NDLEA.

He said the training would help to strengthen discipline and patrotism amongst young persons in the region.

“We heard the appeal from our royal fathers regarding drug abuse and youth moral reorientation”, he said adding that PINL had initiated discussions internally on the launching of a joint awareness campaign with NDLEA to sensitize youths on drug abuse, security ethics, and productive behavior.

“This initiative will help strengthen discipline, patriotism, and responsible conduct among our young people, ” he stated.

Dr. Mezeh further informed the stakeholders that it has engaged the services of town criers to ensure proper and timely dissemination of information on activties around the TNP.

The PINL official said their key responsibility would be to enhance communication and intelligence flow around the 215 TNP host communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo and Abia States, adding that their engagement was part of key recommendations by the communities at the last stakeholders meeting.
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‎”Two town criers per community; one man and one woman, have been officially launched. Their responsibilities include: disseminating verified information, supporting sensitization efforts, enhancing early-warning intelligence, acting as communication bridges between PINL contractors and community structures, ” Mezeh stated.

Giving the scorecard of its activities in the last one month, Mezeh said the company has ensured uninterrupted production on the Eastern Corridor by maintaining zero-infractions on the TNP, thus sustaining increase in crude oil and gas production in the corridor.
He informed the stakeholders that in the month of October to November, Bayelsa State recorded no case of vandalism in it’s operational areas.

On security, he said pipeline vandalism attempts reduced by over 87% compared to 2022, stressing; “Our surveillance operations and mandate have been extended to cover all oil and gas facilities in a proximity to TNP.
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‎”Community-based intelligence increased from 10.5% to 68%, reflecting deeper trust and stronger cooperation with traditional rulers, youth structures, and contractors”.

He attributed the feat to increased stakeholders engagement and collaboration between the company, its contractors and the communities.

Dr. Mezeh also informed the Bayelsa stakeholders that Biseni Clan has been fully incorporated into its operations while some other communities have been submitted to the NNPCL and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for consideration and approval.

On its corporate social responsibility programmes, the company announced that 2000 women from the communities who are beneficiaries of the PINL SME support scheme have completed their data capturing and account opening formalities and are awaiting disbursement of fund which will be done before the end of the year, while action on the scholarship scheme is 97 percent completed, and disbursement also expected before year ending.

Looking ahead, PINL reiterated its commitment in ensuring adequate protection for the country’s national assets and transparency in all its activities.

“As we advance into the final quarter of 2025, our commitments remain firm to sustain zero pipeline infractions across our corridor, expand youth and women empowerment as strategic drivers of peace and productivity, strengthen collaboration with ONSA, NNPCL, traditional institutions, and security agencies, advocate for the renewal of critical infrastructure, particularly roads affecting operations and upholding transparency and accountability in all projects, from scholarship disbursement to women empowerment, ” Mezeh added.

While lauding the support from the host communities, he solicited further cooperation from the chiefs, youths and women in ensuring that all national assets in the communities are protected.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of Ijaw National Congress (INC) Western Zone, His Royal Highness, Chief Theophilus Moses commended the company for its commitment to community development through its corporate social responsibility programmes and job creation.

He pledged the support of INC in curbing oil theft and vandalism in the Eastern Corridor

“We appreciate the commitment of the management of PINL to our community development. Let us work together to uplift our people, promote progress and ensure prosperity for all.

“We will support PINL in ending pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the Eastern Corridor. INC will continue to collaborate and work together for the sustainability of jobs creation for our youths, our people in our communities and ofcourse those mini-infrastructures as well as your social corporate responsibilities that’s impacting so well in our communities will be supported at all times, ” he assured.

On his part, Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty, King Bubaraye Dakolo called on the government and the oil companies to be deliberate about development in the Niger Delta, insisting only that, would bring lasting peace in the region.

“I want Nigeria to understand that all of what’s going on concerning oil and gas is because there is no deliberate effort to ensure developments in the creeks. Those who have the oil are not having sufficient access to the refined product and that’s the problem. Once that’s adjusted, prices will normalize and there will be no need for pollution and breaking of pipelines anymore, ” the monarch said.

He saluted the company for helping to restore their environment through its vigorous fight against pipeline vandalism.

Also speaking, the Director General, Bayelsa State Youth Development Centre, Comrade Robert Igali, challenged youths of the state to be development-driven and to maximize the opportunities created by the company such as the scholarship and empowerment schemes to better their lives.

In his speech, Engr. Akponine Omojevwe, Head, Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, urged the communities to maintain their collaboration with PINL to sustain its positive rating and to ensure maximum output on the TNP.

“In as much as their operations is ongoing, from the Project Management Office, we want to plead that the royal fathers, the youth leaders, the CDC chairmen, always give them the maximum support that they need because without the communities and your collaboration with them, they can’t excel, ” Omojevwe appealed.

By Our Correspondent

The Senate Tuesday through its committee on Public Accounts , rejected written explanations forwarded to it by management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL) on unaccounted N210trillion from 2017 to 2023.

The Committee headed by Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed ( Nasarawa West) had on the strength of 19 different queries raised against NNPCL by Office of the Auditor – General of the Federation in the financial reports of 2017 to 2023 , directed NNPCL to account for N210trillion financial infraction as contained in the reports .

Though the management of NNPCL in line with the directive, responded to the 19 queries through written explanations but failed to physically appear before the Committee on Tuesday ( November 11, 2025) as earlier suggested and agreed .

Irked by the development , the committee through its Chairman at the session , slammed the Group Chief Executive Officer ( GCEO) of NNPCL, Engineer Bayo Ojulari for offensive evasiveness which according to him, will not make the committed recognise any representation from NNPCL again ,

He said : ” Today, November 11, 2025, was a date chosen by NNPC. it is rather unfortunate that none of the officials of NNPC is here on a date they themselves chose.”

“The public has been waiting for this. It is important that we keep Nigerians informed. Even though we cannot conclude today in the absence of NNPC officials, the committee must share our findings based on the responses already submitted by NNPC.”

He revealed that NNPC’s financial submissions raised serious red flags — particularly claims of ₦103 trillion in accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion in receivables, totaling ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.

“NNPC claimed ₦103 trillion as accrued expenses and ₦107 trillion as receivables — amounting to ₦210 trillion. On question eight, NNPC’s explanation on the ₦107 trillion receivables — equivalent to about $117 billion — contradicts available facts and evidence provided by NNPC itself. The committee is duty-bound to reject this”, he said

He further questioned how NNPC could pay ₦103 trillion in cash calls to joint venture partners in 2023 alone, despite generating only ₦24 trillion in crude revenue between 2017 and 2022.

> “Cash call arrangements were abolished in 2016 under the Buhari administration. How can NNPC claim to have paid ₦103 trillion in one year, when it only generated ₦24 trillion in revenue over five years? Where did NNPC get that money?

“As far as this committee is concerned, that figure is unjustifiable and unacceptable. The ₦103 trillion must be returned to the Treasury. This will be concluded when NNPC appears before us.”

He added that the committee also outrightly rejected the ₦107 Trillion receivables which stand for assets in accounting.

“NNPC claimed of ₦107 trillion as receivables — part of which they said was held in defunct banks. However, no bank or amount was named.

“This lack of transparency is unacceptable. By the time you combine both figures — ₦103 trillion and ₦107 trillion — NNPC must account for ₦210 trillion.

“If the present management of NNPC is finding it difficult to provide acceptable answers, it is better they say so. The committee will not hesitate to subpoena former officials of NNPC and NAPIMS.

“NAPIMS, by law, is a department under NNPCL and cannot maintain an independent account. Yet, NAPIMS has been operating as if it were a separate entity”, he stressed .

He warned that any future absence of NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) before the committee would no longer be tolerated.

> “At any point this committee invites NNPC, the Chief Executive must appear in person. Being out of the country will no longer be accepted as an excuse. The next invitation will require the GCEO’s physical presence.”

In their separate remarks , all members of the committee present at the session , supported the decisions announced by the Chairman .