The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has expressed satisfaction with milestones achieved in implementation of the Board’s blueprint for capacity building in critical oil and gas industry skills.
Speaking in Port Harcourt on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the Human Capital Development (HCD) Training Programme organised by PE Energy Limited in conjunction with the Board, Chevron Nigeria Limited, and PANA Academy, he said the successful completion of the 12-month programme was “a testament to the transformative power of the Board’s project-based HCD Initiative.”
Among key areas of the training were Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Project Management, Automation and Control, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Teamwork, and practical/hands-on training in several oil and gas industry operational areas.
Engr. Ogbe, who was represented by the Manager, HCD of the NCDMB, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena, told the 46 graduands that they were not being prepared simply as employees but as catalysts of change, “leaders who will provide local solutions and set new benchmarks of excellence.” According to him, “This is nation-building in action.”
The NCDMB boss commended the strategic partnership between the Board, Chevron Nigeria Limited, PE Energy Limited, Ambong Energy, and Dexterous Training Institute, for the powerful impact made, noting that the achievement is “grounded in the Board’s steadfast commitment to technical capability development,” a core pillar of its 10-Year Strategic Road Map.
To the graduands, he declared, “Wield your expertise with purpose, diligence, and integrity,” while urging them to be relentless in learning and inspiring to others.
Earlier in his Welcome Address, the Chairman, PANA Holdings, Dr. Daere Akobo, represented by Mrs. Daisy Maduagwu, said the closing ceremony marked not just the end of a training cycle but “the beginning of a new chapter – one defined by growth, knowledge, and excellence.” He charged the graduands to put the knowledge acquired into good use.
In his own remarks, the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), Port Harcourt Chapter, Engr. Chika Chinwah, said OGTAN is “a baby of NCDMB that ensures human capital development takes place on the back of every major oil and gas project.” He urged graduands to make the most out of the training received.
In a project overview, the Country Manager, PE Energy Limited, Engr. Chukwuemeka Igilar, said the Makaraba-Utonana Gas Management Project of Chevron was borne out of the realisation that “There is a need to reduce carbon footprints and carbon emissions,” and that the project is to demonstrate that “waste can be captured as energy.”
According to him, performance test was ongoing and that the project was “about 80% completion.” He listed benefits, which include faster development of awarded marginal fields, zero flaring of gas, zero Co2, zero environmental pollution, and increased DOM gas availability.
In closing remarks, the Capacity Building Advisor of Chevron, Engr. Victor Inyere, thanked the NCDMB for making the programme a reality, while noting that the training was a significant milestone to strengthen local content.
In a vote of thanks, the General Manager, Global Business Services, Mr. Kennedy Dike, said by the successful completion of the training, “We’ve launched a movement” for higher standards in performance. He charged the graduands to take what they have studied to the field and the rigs. As with other speakers, he thanked NCDMB for faithfully implementing its mandate in local content development.
In her final remarks, Mrs. Teide-Bribena advised all graduands to visit the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Joint Qualification System (JQS) and update their personal details.
Six of the 46 graduands, who had the highest rating in the programme, were offered automatic employment by PE Energy Limited.
