Executive of Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, middle, Lamin Ahmed, Board member of NNPC Limited, President of PETAN, Nick Odinuwe and other winners at the NCDMB golf tournament held in Abuja.
-By Felix Douglas
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) golf tournament preceding the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference (NOG) 2022 was held at IBB Golf course in Abuja.
The chief host of the tournament, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engineer Simbi Kesiye Wabote, said the idea is for NCDMB to have a golf tournament prior to the commencement of the NOG conference slated for July 4th to 7th 2022.
Addressing the audience, Wabote made it known that the tournament started in 2021 as a trial. “This year we said, we need to take it up to another notch and I believe next year will be better than this. Next year we are going to look for serious sponsors and we are looking forward for a car that will be won by the winner. That is the plan sincerely speaking at the next year’s tournament. It will be better than this year.”
The ES thanked the club organisers and the participants of the event for making it successful. “I thank NCDMB and my colleagues who are also here actively supporting the event for us to put up a great tournament. They have been wonderful and I appreciate all their efforts.
Somebody asked me why golf? Well, I don’t know, when I leave NCDMB who ever will take over maybe he will replace golf with football but for now it has to be golf all the way as a golfer.”
The ES promised that the tournament will wear a new look next year and urged participants to prepare for it adding that at the Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) which will be held from 5-8 in December at NCDMB headquarters in Bayelsa state. A golf tournament will also be held preceding PNC. He called for support and participation for the upcoming event ensuring that the golf course will be world-class with better prizes to be won.
Wabote told the golfers that the Bayelsa tournament will be enlivened with assurances from Nigerian Content fellows that commitment will be enhanced with attractive prizes to be won at the tournament. He thanked Mike Egbojah, the captain of Abuja club for his support towards the success of the event adding that NCDMB will enhance its promotion for the club.
At the prize award which was presented by President of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Nick Odinuwe, Mary Rose Obiora won a trophy. Ladies trophies presented by Mrs. Lamin Ahmed, a member of NNPC Limited Board to Abibu while the immediate past Managing Director of NLNG, Engr. Tony Attah, presented trophy won by Lamin Ahmed, a past lady captain of golf. The next presentation was made by Engr. Ernest Nwapa, a past ES of NCDMB to the Managing Director of Samsung Heavy Industry who also won a coveted prize. The President of PETAN, Nick Odinuwe also a governing member of NCDMB Council, won a trophy in one of the categories. The NCDMB champion for 2022 tournament was won by Okey Igwe from IBB golf club.
Igwe appreciated NCDMB for organising the golf tournament at IBB golf course preceding the NOG conference. He said he was elated to be the winner with support of the ES. The NCDMB champion had represented Nigeria twice in South Africa and once in Thailand.
Speaking in an interview, Lamin Ahmed, who won a trophy at the ladies categories, said she felt honoured and privileged for winning a trophy in the NCDMB sponsored golf tournament. “The particular reason why I am happy is that NCDMB is at the forefront and mainstreaming good governance at the oil and gas industry, therefore whenever they push their legs forward, we support them in everything thing they do to bring out the best and best value from human beings and Nigeria. This golf tournament is the second edition and we have been promised that next year’s edition will be better as they are known for doing better things.”
Expressing his views as the chief host of the tournament, Engr. Simbi Wabote, thanked his colleagues for their efforts to ensure the event was not flopped.
“They came all out to ensure we had a good event and to ensure that the quality and standard that NCDMB is noted for is also exhibited in the golf tournament.
NCDMB is a local content organisation and usually golf tournament has to be encouraged locally, and we have put our foot forward with regards to golf tournament, by all standard, today was a successful one. I feel very elated particularly seeing my colleagues from the oil and gas industry actively participating in this tournament. The weather has been very good to us and the event has been successful and I think everybody that did participate is happy about it.”
“We promise that next year we are going to do better than this year and I believe this will happen giving the kind of colleagues that I have within the course who are always striving for excellence. We will put our best forward again.”
On his part, former ES of NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwapa, said “in everything NCDMB tries to do, we have established a culture of excellence and one of our major activities is to build capacity. Golf is a great integrator of human life and we find this interesting that the ES has supported golf to this level. I was telling the ES today that just a marketing of his programme in this golf tournament will justifies whatever effort has been come up here with and everybody is happy in the entire golf community both within Nigeria and outside the shores of the land. Everyone is proud of the nature and quality of the tournament underscores all the Board does. I am happy that I was able to make it to the tournament.”
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