Group Set Up Content Development Board For indigenous Business Participation

A socio-economic group , the Ogoni Peoples Assembly ,OPA , said that it has established a content development board, the Ogoni Local Content Development Board (OCDB to ensure full participation of indigenous companies in HYPREP business activities.

The President of the group, Reverend Probel Williams and Secretary, Dr. Evidence Ep-aabari Enoch, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said the board which will be coordinated by the Secretariat of Ogoni Peoples Assembly(OPA) and directed by advisory board manned by highly experienced and knowledgeable local content development specialists sourced from the industry, IOCs, diaspora, academics will ensure that local content are considered in all the projects carried out by the HYPREP.

He said the board will set the template for all projects and contracts in Ogoni and will be tailored towards wealth creation, capacity building, resource optimization, zero capital flight, indigenous participation, teçhnology transfer and domestication.

He said Ogoni Content Development Board, OCDB , borrows a leaf from international best development organisations like the SDG, UNDP, Bodo Medication Initiative(BMI) and Indorama business development templates .

He said that the implementation of all Standard Operation Procedure, SOPs and templates for the board takes off immediately saying that all kingdom wings of Ogoni Peoples Assembly, OPA are activated, empowered and emboldened to commence full implementation beginning from the soil remediation projects currently being mobilized.

He said , “It is based on the above backdrop that OPA therefore in this document presents Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for compliance with Ogoni content for HYPREP remediation sites and other programmes and projects in Ogoniland.
Demonstrable evidence of Ogoni indigenous company partnership for all major contracts above 100million naira. Minimum of one indigenous company to understudy process. That HYPREP staff/sites and projects supervisors should cease from becoming subcontractor in order not to compromise standard”

“Contractor will show evidence of experience in executing similar job with similar scope in Ogoniland or Niger Delta for the past 5 years.

Demonstrable local content compliance, Ogoni shareholding, management status and staff membership in company.
Compliance with Ogoni content policy in subcontracting and outsourcing.
Mandatory technology transfer and domestication to Ogoni companies.

Trainee policy that favours internship and ITs for Ogoni youth.

Patronage of Ogoni grown products and services especially approved nutrients and bioremediant. This includes Ogoni company licenced products”

“Compliance with compulsory outsource of items marked on attached soil remediation work scope. Demonstrable evidence that not less than 2 of company Project Manager, Project Consultant, Project Engineer, Project Supervisor and Project HSE Officer are Ogonis.

Compliance with all local and international statutory provisions, laws, licence, permits and regulations including submitting to Ogoni stakeholders monitoring and evaluation boards. 30% Ogoni neighbouring community labour chances in each lot to be managed by OPA. Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) to be agreed with each contractor for development projects in communities and 4% of contract value should go for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR.”