Terry DavidThe future of Nigeria’s energy sector will be shaped not only by global demand but also by how the country prepares its workforce, infrastructure, and institutions. Simbi Wabote, a Nigerian engineer and public servant who led the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) from 2016 to 2023, has long argued that future-proofing requires deliberate investment in local capacity. His tenure illustrates how aligning energy policy with human capital development can transform short-term activity into long-term national strength.
When Simbi Wabote assumed leadership of the NCDMB, local content in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector stood at 26 percent. By the time he left, it had risen to 54 percent. This dramatic increase was not achieved through policy statements alone. It required coordinated strategies that strengthened indigenous companies, financed innovation, and built infrastructure that could support Nigeria’s participation in a rapidly changing global energy market. Wabote believed that preparing for the future meant ensuring Nigerians were not just participants on the margins but central actors across every stage of the value chain.
A cornerstone of his approach was workforce development. Nigeria’s reliance on expatriate labor had long restricted opportunities for domestic talent, leaving many skilled Nigerians underutilized. Wabote championed training programs that equipped citizens with technical expertise, managerial skills, and international exposure. He argued that without an empowered workforce, the sector would remain dependent and vulnerable. By building local skills pipelines, he created pathways for Nigerians to rise into leadership roles, ensuring that the sector’s future was not outsourced but anchored at home.
Infrastructure development was another pillar of his strategy. Under his leadership, the NCDMB launched projects such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme, designed to provide industrial facilities for local manufacturers and service providers. These parks not only reduced reliance on imports but also created jobs and fostered technical innovation. Wabote emphasized that infrastructure was more than concrete and steel. It represented the backbone of resilience, allowing local firms to compete on quality and cost with their international counterparts.
Financing indigenous participation was equally critical. Nigerian businesses often lacked access to the capital needed to scale, leaving them overshadowed by larger foreign players. Wabote helped establish funding mechanisms that provided accessible financing for local companies, enabling them to expand capabilities, purchase modern equipment, and take on major contracts. These interventions bridged the gap between ambition and execution, turning entrepreneurial potential into operational strength.
Sustainability added another layer to his vision. While oil and gas continue to dominate Nigeria’s economy, Wabote recognized that global energy transitions could not be ignored. He consistently advocated for diversification, urging investments in research and development that would prepare Nigeria for a future where renewables and low-carbon technologies play a larger role. Future-proofing, in his view, meant balancing current dependence on hydrocarbons with readiness for alternative energy sources that could define the next century. He discussed this topic further in his interview with Principal Post.
Governance reinforced every part of this approach. Wabote argued that strong regulatory frameworks were necessary to protect investors, employees, and the public alike. By improving transparency and accountability in the monitoring of contracts and compliance, he created conditions where local content commitments were not symbolic but enforceable. His leadership helped foster credibility in Nigeria’s energy policy, reassuring both domestic stakeholders and international partners that commitments would be honored.
His work carries broader lessons for other resource-dependent economies. Future-proofing an energy sector requires more than resource extraction. It demands deliberate investment in people, infrastructure, financing, sustainability, and governance. Wabote’s success demonstrates that with coherent strategies, countries can build resilience against volatility while positioning themselves to benefit from global shifts.
For Nigeria, the stakes are profound. The energy sector drives much of the nation’s GDP, and its trajectory will influence not only economic growth but also employment, social stability, and global competitiveness. Wabote often stressed that local content is not just about percentages. It is about sovereignty. By equipping Nigerians to lead in their own energy sector, he argued, the nation strengthens its control over its future.
As Nigeria looks ahead, Wabote’s legacy provides both a model and a challenge. The leap from 26 percent to 54 percent local content under his leadership proves that transformation is possible with focus and accountability. Yet sustaining that progress will demand renewed commitment to training, infrastructure, financing, and innovation. For Wabote, the message was always clear: Nigeria’s energy future belongs to Nigerians, provided the country continues to invest in its own capacity to lead.
Learn more about what Simbi Wabote is currently up to on his LinkedIn page: