The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote has pledged the readiness for the Board to partner with Presidential Amnesty Office in area of human capacity development for the ex-agitators.
He made this known when the interim Sole Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) paid a courtesy visit to the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Friday.
Wabote explained that some of the trainings provided for the ex- agitators were not conducted by internationally recognized institutions, hence most of the beneficiaries could not be employed with the skills and certificates they acquired.
Stressing the importance of requisite certifications in the oil sector, Wabote said, “the industry is very specific in term of certifications required and if it is not met, you cannot force them to consider another thing”.
Wabote further opined the need for the PAP to diversify its activities to ensure that it meets the purpose for which it was set up and fulfills President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of diversification into agriculture and other allied sectors. He mentioned that the Oil and Gas industry is technology driven hence the number of people it can employ was very limited.
While correcting the misconception about the NCDMB, Wabote stressed that it is not an intervention agency for the Niger Delta region, but regulatory organisation set up to ensure the participation of Nigerians both in the operations of the oil and gas industry as well as coordinate human capacity development in the industry and linkage areas.
“We are not an intervention agency like Amnesty Office or NDDC but a regulatory agency responsible for all Nigerians.
Wabote charged the PAP boss to chart ways and opportunities for programmes that can service the Oil sector including catering, logistics, insurance among others.
He promised that the Board will partner with the Amnesty office to develop a strategy that will improve the opportunities available for the ex-agitators.
Earlier in his remarks, the interim Sole Administrator of PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) mentioned that the aim of the visit was to seek areas of collaboration with the Board on areas of training for the ex- agitators in the region.
In his words, “the amnesty programme has successfully re-integrated about 22,000 ex-agitators with trainings and empowerments in various skills. We seek the Board’s collaboration in specific needs of the oil sector where people can be trained and engaged.”
Dikio reiterated that the PAP aims at transforming the remaining 8000 ex-agitators to become entrepreneurs so as to contribute to the national economy.
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