The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Friday commissioned the Engineering Laboratory of the Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW) located in Obayantor, Edo State. The Laboratory has the capacity to conduct Destructive and Non-Destructive testing. The project which was sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) will help domicile 100 per cent of welding and fabrication activities in-country.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote described the laboratory as a milestone in the country’s local content drive and proof of the Board’s strong and effective collaboration with SNEPCO, which has supported various Nigerian Content activities.
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Patrick Daziba Obah charged NIW to raise its profile and operations so as to compare with other international centers of its kind. He promised that the Board would partner with the institute to attract experts to support the activities and management of the centre to enable it operate with world class standards.
In his opening remarks, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW), Engr. Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri pledged that NIW will collaborate with NCDMB and other international oil companies to develop an inclusive governance framework, which would ensure sustainability and the effective utilization of the centre for welding trainings, qualification, and certification of welding personnel, procedure and materials.
Also speaking, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Chiedu Oba stated that the company’s partnership with NIW was spurred by the desire to develop a world class facility that will support manufacture of goods in-country, development of human capacity and creation of job opportunities.
