Shell companies in Nigeria have reiterated their dedication to boosting Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector during the 13th Practical Nigerian Content Forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The four-day event, themed “Deepening the Next Frontier for Nigerian Content Implementation,” brings together over 700 oil and gas entities and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to assess the progress of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Development (NOGICD) Act, enacted in 2010.
Shell highlighted its continued support for local businesses, revealing that contracts worth $1.98 billion were awarded to Nigerian companies in 2023—a 3% increase from the $1.92 billion recorded in 2022.
These contracts, managed by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG), underscore the company’s commitment to empowering indigenous enterprises.
Olaposi Fadahunsi, Business Opportunity Manager for SNEPCo’s Bonga South-West Aparo Project, represented SNEPCo Managing Director Ron Adams at the forum. He commended the NCDMB for driving compliance with the Nigerian Content Act and emphasized Shell’s dedication to supporting Nigerian businesses.
“Shell companies execute a large proportion of their activities through contracts with third parties, and Nigeria-registered companies have been key beneficiaries of this policy aimed at powering Nigeria’s progress,” Fadahunsi said.
Investments in Human Capital Development
Shell’s contributions extend beyond contract awards to human capital development. The company, in collaboration with its SPDC Joint Venture partners—the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies, and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC)—has completed several initiatives, including:
- Niger Delta University Learning Centre and Digital Library Project
- Federal University of Technology Information Technology Hub
- University of Lagos Geosciences Centre of Excellence
- Support for the Nigeria Diving School
- Ongoing research funding at the University of Ibadan for synthetic-based drilling fluid development.
Since 2016, Shell has awarded over 3,772 undergraduate and 109 Niger Delta postgraduate scholarships.
According to Fadahunsi, graduates of the postgraduate scholarship scheme have achieved a 98% employability rate, securing jobs in oil and gas, academia, and IT sectors within a year of completing their studies.
“As we speak, beneficiaries of the 13th edition of the Niger Delta Post Graduate Scholarship awards are pursuing their studies in the United Kingdom,” Fadahunsi said. “Nigerian content will continue to be an important part of Shell operations.”
