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.
In his presentation at the event, the Keynote speaker, Professor Okorie Uche said Nigeria can deepen local content across all sectors by 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 stressed the need for institutional frameworks to be strengthened by empowering monitoring bodies, and establishing equivalents in other sectors.
Promoting local content, Professor Okorie said; “ for domestic businesses, provide better access to large contracts and procurement opportunities, improve skill development, tech upgrade 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 hold with the theme Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy.