The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on Wednesday convened a high-profile audience at its Conference Centre (Rose 1101) for the first quarter 2026 edition of its flagship Book Reading Series, featuring former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside, as guest author.
The event centered on Peterside’s 2025 publication, Leading in a Storm: Practical Leadership Strategies in Crisis Situations, a 204-page work that explores leadership responses to complex and volatile environments. Attendance reached full capacity, drawing participants from tertiary institutions, the media, the Association of Nigerian Authors, and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, alongside a virtual audience.
Delivering the welcome address on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the General Manager of Corporate Communications, Obinna Ezeobi, described the reading series as a “signature event” that underscores the Board’s commitment to creativity and intellectual development.
He noted that the initiative forms part of NCDMB’s broader strategy to stimulate intellectual engagement among stakeholders and enhance the capacity of Nigerians to operate effectively within the oil and gas sector and its linkages.
According to him, the Board has also invested in multiple research-driven interventions, including six Centres of Excellence spread across the country’s geopolitical zones.
READ ALSO: NCDMB cracks down on midstream sector, insists on strict NOGICD compliance
These include specialized hubs at Niger Delta University, Amassoma (Marine and Petrochemical Technologies); Federal University of Technology, Minna (Engineering Design); and Federal University of Technology, Owerri (Local Raw Materials Substitution). Others are located at Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (Safety and Environment Studies); Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (Renewable Energy); and Federal University of Technology, Akure (Geology and Geophysical Studies).
Additional facilities highlighted were the Geosciences Research Centre at the University of Lagos and the Marine and Offshore Training Centre at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. Ezeobi also disclosed that the latest initiative—a Centre of Excellence in Gas Development at Delta State University, Abraka—is being developed in partnership with Seplat Energy Plc.
Further expanding its talent development efforts, the Board is collaborating with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers to organize the inaugural Nigerian Engineering Olympiad.
Launched in November 2025 in Abuja, the competition is scheduled to conclude in April 2026 and aims to inspire innovation among final-year and postgraduate engineering students.
In a book conversation moderated by Victor Binawari, Peterside offered insight into the motivations behind his work, citing personal experiences across public service.
He referenced his tenure in the National Assembly as Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum, where he navigated persistent fuel supply crises, as well as his time at NIMASA dealing with maritime piracy challenges. He also pointed to the global leadership struggles witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic and a critical remark from an academic at the Kellogg School of Management, which described Africa as being in a “near-permanent state of crises.”
“These experiences pushed me to examine how leaders can perform more effectively under pressure,” Peterside said, emphasizing the importance of calmness, clarity, adaptability, and resilience in crisis situations.
He outlined eight core competencies for effective crisis leadership: contextual intelligence, calm confidence, sense-making, strategic decision-making, clear communication, strategic flexibility, coordinated teamwork, and continuous learning.
According to him, these attributes define the capacity of leaders to respond decisively and responsibly during turbulent periods.
Peterside also highlighted his storytelling approach in the book, noting that narratives enhance relatability and retention while offering practical lessons that readers can apply in real-life situations.
In closing remarks, Teleola Oyeleke of NCDMB’s Corporate Communications Division expressed appreciation to the guest author and participants, urging attendees to engage deeply with the book and commit to ongoing personal development.
The event reaffirmed NCDMB’s role in fostering intellectual discourse and leadership development within Nigeria’s energy ecosystem and beyond.