Kingsley Osamede, has won the annual oil and gas essay competition organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
An undergraduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, Kingsley Osamede, 20-year-old Osamede, is a 200-level student of Medicine and Surgery at the university.
The undergraduate, who aims to become a specialist consultant after his MBBS degree, was rewarded with a cash prize of ₦500,000, a laptop and a plaque.
Kingsley Osamede overcame Augustine Ekele, a 200-level student of Dentistry and Dental Surgery at UNIBEN; Victory Williams of Federal University, Otuoke; Elizabeth Ezekiel, a student of Medicine and Surgery, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma and Mayeroghene Obodoya of Delta State University, Abraka, to win the coveted award.
Osamede, overjoyed by the win and prize, vowed to rescind his earlier decision to travel abroad to practice after his graduation, saying he now discovered that a lot of opportunities abound in Nigeria.
The winner, who read the winning essay to the admiration of the audience, advocated local content in every sector of the country’s economy in order to drive sustainable growth and development of the country.
In his welcome address, the Project Consultant, Mr. Eyinimi Omorozi, commended the management of NCDMB for organising the competition.
He said the project was intended to promote academic excellence among university and polytechnic students.
He also said it was aimed at creating awareness for Nigerians, especially the youth who are the real drivers of the Nigerian content initiative to build local capacities and competencies for indigenous participation in the oil and gas industry and develop the talent to create value from that opportunity.
He said the whole idea was institutionalised in line with the established mandate of the NCDMB to partner other organisations to organise conferences, workshops, seminars, training and other public education fora to further the attainment of the goal of developing Nigerian content.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Commissioner for Education, Bayelsa State, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, said capacity development was imperative in developing the country.
In his words: