Abuja: Engineers have emphasised the importance of integrating local content thinking across various sectors in Nigeria, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and ICT, in addition to oil and gas. This position formed part of discussions at the 2025 Annual Workshop of the Nigeria Content Development Committee of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), in Abuja.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Keynote speaker, Professor Okorie Uche, discussed ways Nigeria can deepen local content across all sectors. He suggested reducing imports and foreign dominance of supply chains, curbing capital flight, and prioritising local labour, local procurement, value-added manufacturing, capacity building, and home-grown technology. Professor Okorie further emphasised the need to strengthen SMEs support programmes and boost access to affordable finance.
He also stressed the importance of empowering monitoring bodies and establishing equivalents in other sectors to strengthen institutional frameworks. Promoting local content, Professor Okorie said, would provide domestic businesses better access to large contracts and procurement opportunities, improve skill development, tech upgrades, and increase participation in value chains and potential export markets. For the economy, it would increase jobs, higher incomes, improved standard of living, reduce import dependency, and increase economic resilience.
Speaking on the theme of the workshop, ‘Strengthening Nigeria’s Domestic Business Development: Leveraging Local Content Principles for Sustainable Economic Growth,’ the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Margaret Oguntala, said it reinforces Nigerians’ collective drive towards economic resilience and sustainable development through the strategic utilisation of local resources, expertise, and industries. Oguntala also reminded participants about the NSE 2025 International Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting, scheduled to hold from December 1st to 5th in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Annual General Meeting will focus on the theme Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy.