PARTICIPANTS at the annual workshops of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Nigerian Content Committee Workshop held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital during the annual conference of NSE, agreed to embark on projects that will increase the Nigerian content in engineering, capacity building, entrepreneurship development, data base and website development, information support for national engineering content among other strategies to ensure the success of Nigerian content.

Presenting a paper at the workshop on Nigerian Content Act-The Road So Far-Successes, Challenges and Suggestions, Engr. EC Nwapa (FNSE), the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board noted that the Nigerian Content Act was signed into law by Mr. President in April 22, 2010 and established the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board inaugurated governing council for the board in August 2010.

"The board commenced operations in Yenagoa in June 2010. It has retained $10 billion out of 20 billion average annual industrial spending. Create over 30,000 direct employment and training opportunities," he said.

He added that there is the need to invest in skills acquisition and international certification in order to exploit vacancies brought about by reduction of expatriate engineers.

In his paper on Nigerian Content Development and Expatriates Quota Administration Engr. Felix Atume said that since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in 1957, by the Shell corporation, the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry has grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the major players in the international Oil and Gas marketing in the world "Nigeria is currently the largest oil producer in Africa. The 11th largest in the world, with an average production of 2.5 million barrels per day. Nigeria is also the 5th largest exporter of crude oil to the United States of America. Oil is predominantly the Nigeria's major source of income," he said.

The Chairman of NSE Nigerian Content Committee, Engr. Chris Okoye(FNSE) and the Chairman, FEGNO Construct Nigeria Ltd in his paper on Human Capacity Shortages: A Case For Revitalization Of Technical Trade Schools and Polytechnics said that the Nigerian economy needs to increase its competitiveness or there will be insufficient investments to enable it grow at a rate to remain a viable economy.

"It is obvious that the driver of this initiative could only be propelled by the deployment of science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI). The absence of capable, competent and qualified technicians and craftsmen as vital link in this chain makes the realization of this objective impossible.

The President and Chairman of Council of NSE, Engr. Mustafa Shehu, who was impressed by the high turnout of Nigerian Engineers at the event, said that there would not have been any better theme for the workshop. He also presented awards to Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and Total E and P Nig Ltd for their effort in promoting Nigerian content.