The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NDDC) on Monday reiterated its commitment to the development and strengthening of specialised oil and gas industry skills, while emphasising the need for operators and service companies to fully identify with the Board’s initiatives in that regard to facilitate national development.
Speaking at the kick-off of the Nigerian Content Non-Compliance Remediation (NCNC-Rem) training programme at Aveon Offshore Limited, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Board was handing over young Nigerians shortlisted from its Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS) to the company for specialised training to fit them for industry operations.
“We want to see your own contribution, your own input [in human capacity development,” the Executive Secretary charged Aveon Offshore and training organisations involved, pointing out that the oil and gas industry is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, and that it is of strategic importance to have citizens fully engaged in all aspects of operation in that sector.
The NCDMB boss, who was represented by the Deputy Manager, Service Utilisation, of NCDMB, Mr. Cityfaith Zorasi, told the trainees that their selection for the programme should be viewed as a challenge for self-development and to meet national aspirations in human capital development. According to him, “Any part of the oil and gas industry that you are introduced to, if you put in your best, that is the beginning of your tomorrow.”
Areas of focus in the 12-month training include digital literacy, AutoCAD courses/computer-aided designing, civil and structural engineering, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), as well as practical/hands-on activities.
In his opening remarks at the event, the Nigerian Content Development (NCD) Manager of Aveon Offshore, Mr. Noble N. Isi, thanked the NCDMB for bridging the gap between the largely theoretical knowledge young graduates acquired in tertiary education and the specialised skill sets required in oil and gas industry operations.
According to him, “What we learn in school is to shape our minds for what lies ahead,” and needs to be built upon through capacity building programmes and industry exposure, to have the trainees sufficiently refined. He assured the NCDMB and participants that “At the end of the training we are going to bring out a special team [of technically well-equipped individuals],” who would be assets to the oil and gas industry.
A representative of the training organisation, Unique Ocean Limited, Mr. Olayanju Olasunkami, presented details on the scope of the programme as well as an overview of what the participants could expect at various stages of the training.
To wrap up the event, the trainees, numbering 10, had to sign Code of Conduct and Indemnity Forms, while representatives of NCDMB and Aveon signed the Training Monitoring Forms.
The NCDMB team was led by Mr. Zorasi, and included Petra Unuigboye, Letty Agala, and Prince Foncha.
