One of the founding staff of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Obinna Joseph Ezeobi, earned a Doctorate Degree in Communication Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday, 12 July 2024.
At the external examination conducted by renowned academics, Ezeobi, Deputy Manager at the NCDMB, successfully defended his dissertation titled “Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Communication Campaigns and Selected Oil Companies’ Awareness and Compliance.”
His study explored how the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act was introduced and communicated as a transformational policy of the Federal Government and its challenges and limitations as a developmental strategy. The empirical research probed the persistence of non-compliant practices by international and indigenous oil and gas companies in Nigerian Content despite the extensive communication campaigns on the Nigerian Content Act.
Dr. Ezeobi expects that the findings of the PhD research will improve policy formulation in the wider Nigerian economy and guide Government agencies to develop impactful communication campaigns that foster compliance and improve engagement with key stakeholders in various sectors of the economy.
He is confident that outcomes of the study would enhance NCDMB’s communication programmes and implementation of the NOGICD Act, in addition to contributing to the body of knowledge on the influence of media and communications on the behaviour of individuals and companies, particularly their attitude towards regulations when business interests are involved.
In his master’s studies and terminal degree, Dr. Ezeobi focused his research interests on the emerging field of Energy Communications, exploring how Communications and Media Activities impact and influence the core operations of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
The scholar holds degrees from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and the University of Port Harcourt and has worked at the NCDMB since 2010, after stints in the media and the advertising industry. He says that his goal is to contribute significantly to the practice and study of Energy Communications and foster improved understanding and support of the sector by members of the public.
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