From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited on Wednesday in Port Harcourt inaugurated 140 trainees for an intensive three-month Advanced Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Programme for the US$5 billion NLNG Train 7 Project on Bonny Island, Rivers State.
The trainees, who are graduates in different academic disciplines, had completed a 12-month Basic Training Programme in diverse oil-and-gas-industry-related skill sets and are now for the on-the-job phase which includes active hands-on participation in operational areas such as Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), Commissioning, and Desktop Programmes, among others.In November 2024, a set of 331 trainees under Batch A of the NLNG T7 HCD Training Programme had begun capacity development in facility management, engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Quality Assurance and Quality Control, as well as welding and fabrication.
Another set of 77 trainees under Batch B of the same Training Programme began capacity development in data analytics and supply chain management among several other fields relevant to the operations of the oil and gas industry. Addressing the trainees and trainers drawn from the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) as well as Management personnel of the NCDMB and NLNG,
The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Advanced NC-HCD training is more than a milestone, but an expression of the collective commitment of the Board and the NLNG “to nurturing world-class Nigerian professionals who will shape the future of our oil and gas industry.”
He said the Board has remained steadfast in its conviction that Human Capital Development is “a critical investment in the sustainability and competiveness” of Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain, pointing out that over 400 Nigerians have undergone basic training in diverse technical, vocational, and specialized areas and are equipped with practical skills directly aligned with industry needs.
According to the NCDMB boss, who was represented by the Manager, Human Capital Development, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena, the Board and NLNG are “advancing even further by formally launching the on-the-job component of the NLNG Train 7 NC-HCD Programme,” which would see 140 bright and promising Nigerians gain practical exposure and real-time experience across technical domains within the NLNG operational plants in Bonny Island. He commended the NLNG, which he described as “a trusted and forward-looking partner in the development of [Nigeria’s] human capital base,” for its unwavering partnership, noting that the company has not only complied with Nigerian Content requirements but “has consistently shown leadership in embracing the spirit of national capacity building.”
Engr. Ogbe also acknowledged the critical role of OGTAN for being instrumental in aligning training content, delivery standards, and capacity development frameworks with the actual needs of the industry.
The trainers, he noted, have helped to bridge the gap between training and employability – ensuring that trainees do not just learn but are ready to add value from day one.
In her remarks, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of the NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, expressed profound appreciation to the NCDMB for productive collaboration on the HCD Programme, which she described as “a reaffirmation of NLNG’s unwavering commitment to human capital development.”
She said the support of the NCDMB has enabled the NLNG to effectively carry out its programme for the development of a strong, skilled and highly professional workforce for the country’s oil and gas industry.
The trainings, she noted, are particularly significant as the NLNG Train 7 Project, which involves very advanced technology, has reached 80 per cent completion, and highly skilled technical manpower would be required. Final Investment Decision on the project was signed in December 2019.On what she described as “robust, advanced … on-the-job training programme,”
Dr. Hosfall disclosed that the trainees would work within the facilities of the NLNG on Bonny Island.
In closing remarks, the Nigerian Content Manager of NLNG, Engr. Dagogo Buowari, thanked the NCDMB for the partnership between the two organisations, and expressed his belief that the industry would continue to benefit from their collective endeavours.He advised trainees to get themselves organised for their three-month programme on Bonny Island, which begins on June 16, 2025, and to ensure they do not become distracted in the course of their training.
