The close-out ceremony of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Asset Legacy Training programme held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, witnessed attestations and plaudits from among industry regulator, partner companies and outgoing trainees as to milestones achieved in relation to the human capital development (HCD) provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
Asset Legacy Training, an HCD programme of the NLNG Limited executed on the back of the company’s multibillion-dollar Train-7 project, is framed in the light of targets set by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for job-ready and globally competitive workforce for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The 12-month advanced hands-on programme which had 20 participants receive training and certifications in specialised and vocational skill sets, such as Onshore, Offshore Subsea Systems Design, WordPress Coding and Design, Nitrogen Generation, Confined Space Entry, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Digital Studies, Health and Safety. The programme also covered Entrepreneurship and Employability Skills, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance.
In her address, the Manager, Human Capital Development, NCDMB, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena said the successful completion of the programme marked a decisive step in the drive for a capable and world-class Nigerian workforce for the oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.
According to her, these graduates now stand prepared not only as skilled professionals but future leaders and innovators who will drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation.” With their vocational training, too, in refrigeration, air-conditioning and electrical installation, they had the requisite skills for self-employment.
She commended the manpower development and training companies, namely, Dexterous Applied Training Institute, Hommaston Limited, Amborg Global Resources, and BG Technical Limited, for their professionalism and for achieving zero loss incidents during the entire duration of the programme.
Mrs. Teide-Bribena expressed the appreciation of the NCDMB to NLNG Limited and partner companies for their steadfast commitment to local content development.
In her opening remarks, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of the NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, said the training had been about unlocking potentials and providing participants “not just the technical know-how but the mindset to innovate, to continue to collaborate, and to solve real-world problems.”
She expressed the company’s satisfaction with the outcome of the Asset HCD Training, noting that the programme enabled trainees to discover new possibilities and to develop the capacity to think critically, act responsibly, and lead with excellence. “I see young talents who are ready to break boundaries and innovate experiences that will inspire positive transformation that will improve lives sustainably,” she declared.
She commended the NCDMB and other partner organisations, facilitators and trainers for making the programme a success.
The training organisations, for their part, were thankful for the opportunity to be part of the HCD programme and to impart industry-related skills to participants. They were equally appreciative of the outstanding performance of the outgoing trainees.
Engr. Dumam Abila, of Dexterous Applied Training Institute, said most of the trainees came to the programme with little or no knowledge about the skill sets taught but gave their best and gained all the expertise required to function in diverse roles in the oil and gas industry.
According to him, “They did very well and all of them were able to acquire all of the certifications that were given for this particular programme.” He thanked the NCDMB and NLNG for making their participation possible.
A representative of Homaston said his company’s mission “to empower Nigerians for professional prowess in the oil and gas sector” was fulfilled through its participation in the HCD programme. His counterpart from Amborg Global Resources Limited, Engr. Chukwuemeka Amadi, also expressed satisfaction with the high standard of performance of the trainees and also thanked the NCDMB and NLNG for the opportunity to be involved as facilitators.
The outgoing trainees, represented by two of their colleagues, Mr. Chijioke Samuel and Kingsley Chibuzor Ude, expressed profound appreciation for the knowledge and skills acquired. Mr. Samuel said the training programme was “an enriching and transformative journey” designed to equip them with technical and professional skills relevant to the energy and related sectors, while his counterpart said he and his colleagues felt fulfilled.
For Chibuzor Ude, who was described as exceptional in his performance during the training, the ultimate was achieved early enough as he was offered employment while on the hands-on segment of the training at BG Technical Limited.
On their next moves after the training, the participants expressed their readiness to put into use the skills they have acquired through self-employment, even as they expressed hope that they would be able to secure employment in organisations within the oil and gas sector.
