Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Executive Secretary, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, was honoured with the Champion of Local Content Development in Africa Award at the inaugural African Heritage Concert and Awards held on Saturday evening in Kigali, Rwanda.
The event was graced by a host of influential Africans who received various awards for their contributions to their respective fields.
Wabote, in his acceptance speech, dedicated the award to his family and the hard-working staff of the Board, stating that the award would motivate him to continue promoting local content across Africa in collaboration with other organisations and individuals.
He emphasised the need for all African nations to optimise value addition to their natural resources and develop the capacities and capabilities of their human resources, so they can participate fully in the value chain of their extractive industries, particularly the oil and gas industry.
Wabote indicated that NCDMB had already started promoting local content implementation in the linkage sectors such as mining, power and manufacturing.
Former Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, was also honoured with the African Democracy and Peace Icon Award at the event. Speaking during the ceremony, Jonathan urged political officeholders to initiate policies that would improve the lives of citizens and build institutions that would outlive them.
He commended the Government and people of Rwanda for their developmental strides, becoming a preferred destination where organisations and groups across Africa and beyond now prefer to host their events.
In his acceptance speech, pan-Africanist and legal practitioner, Prof PLO Lumumba, warned of foreign interests scrabbling for resources in the continent, stating that “if we are not careful, Africa will be eaten for lunch. We should be alert and ensure that it does not happen again, our continent should not be conquered again.”
The Chairman of Heritage Times, Mr Moses Siloko Siasia, explained that the African Heritage Concert and Awards was conceived to motivate change makers in the public and private sectors across the continent, with a view to positioning them as models for other persons to emulate.
The event witnessed a colourful display of African culture and honour, with other notable winners including the late President of the Republic of Tanzania, Mr John Magufuli, who won the African Icon Award (posthumous); former President of the Republic of Botswana, Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, who picked up the Africa Philanthropist Award; former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Akpata, who was conferred with the African Legal Icon Award; and the Triplets Ghetto Kids from Uganda, who won the African Entertainment Award.
Wabote hailed the organisers of the African Heritage Concert and Awards, describing the award as a stepping stone to the African continent’s development. He urged other change makers to join forces with the Board and other organisations to drive the development of the continent through local content promotion.
