NCDMB tasks OGTAN on Categorization, Employment

The new leadership of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) have been challenged to take the association to greater heights through the categorization of members’ capabilities and identification of niche areas in the oil and gas industry with high employment opportunities.

The Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote gave the charge recently when he received the new executive of OGTAN led by the President, Chief Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He acknowledged that the oil industry trainers’ body recorded significant achievements under the outgone President, Dr Mayowa Afe and challenged the new leadership on continuous improvements and new goals.

According to him, one of the focus areas is the categorization of members according to their capacities and certifications. He said the exercise was a precondition before the Board would consider making it mandatory for companies that seek to offer training services in the oil and gas industry to belong to OGTAN.

On the identification of job demand areas, the Executive Secretary said: “OGTAN should conduct gap analysis in the industry and come up with the niche areas. It is your competitive advantage. We want information on those types of trainings where there is 60 percent assurance of jobs in the oil and gas industry.”

He explained that NCDMB’s strategy for capacity building is hinged on the 60-20-20 principle, whereby 60 percent of training programmes and budget is dedicated to skills sets that guarantee employment in the oil industry; 20 percent for the improvement of the skills of persons already employed, and 20 percent to soft skills and other general areas.

Earlier in his comments, the new OGTAN President explained that the purpose of the visit was to introduce the new executive of the association to the NCDMB management. He stated that OGTAN has embarked on strategic transformation anchored on categorization, certification, compliance, collaboration, competence, curriculum, and cost competitiveness.

He said the plan of the group is to promote the trainings of Nigerians in strategic areas that have huge employment opportunities. “There are low hanging fruits that can mop up many unemployed Nigerians. They can acquire AP certifications and other relevant certifications and work anywhere in the world.”

He added that “There are opportunities that exist in the oil and gas industry which are not being harnessed. We want to partner NCDMB to train Nigerians on those areas. We can help Nigerian graduates and even nongraduates acquire those skills and international certifications that would enable them work anywhere in this world.

“We intend to bring those opportunities to the limelight and emphasize that skill is a global currency. There are certain certifications, even short courses that one can take within one to three months and get certified internationally.”