Yemisi Izuora
Forty eight young Nigerian engineers would benefit from a 12 month training programme initiative by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in partnership with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and Global Ocean Engineers Nigeria Limited.
The partnership training is intended to equip the beneficiaries with specialised skills in subsea engineering.
The initiative, which forms part of the Board’s efforts to bridge technical skills gaps in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, was inaugurated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The programme will provide participants with six months of classroom instruction followed by six months of structured on-the-job training, combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience in offshore engineering operations.
Key areas of training include risers and hydrodynamics engineering, offshore structures design, pipeline engineering, and computer-aided design and drafting (AutoCAD).
Speaking at the kickoff ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Ms. Emelle Alexis, described the programme as an important step towards building indigenous capacity in a highly specialised segment of the petroleum industry.
Ogbe said the initiative was designed to prepare Nigerian professionals for the technical demands of subsea operations while promoting safety, efficiency and reliability in offshore oil and gas facilities.
“Today marks the beginning of a transformational journey for 48 young Nigerians in a highly specialised field that demands precision, discipline and accountability,” he said.
He explained that the training would go beyond technical instruction to develop participants’ problem-solving abilities, teamwork, professionalism and commitment to operational safety.
According to him, acquiring these competencies is essential to ensuring the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible operation of modern oil and gas infrastructure.
The Executive Secretary urged participants to demonstrate discipline and commitment throughout the programme, expressing confidence that the knowledge and practical experience acquired would enable them to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy industry.
Also speaking, the Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Heritage Energy, Felix Osiwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening indigenous technical capacity.
He emphasised the importance of developing a skilled Nigerian workforce capable of supporting existing and future energy infrastructure projects, noting that local expertise remains critical to the industry’s long-term growth.
In his welcome address, the Managing Director of Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, George Ebuh, represented by Engr. Ifedolapo Aderibigbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s subsea engineering workforce.
He highlighted the need for qualified local professionals to support the safe and reliable operation of offshore and deepwater infrastructure.
The participating trainees welcomed the opportunity to acquire specialised engineering skills, particularly in safety procedures and AutoCAD.
The initiative falls under NCDMB’s Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes, which seek to address critical skills shortages, facilitate technology transfer and increase Nigerian participation in high-value oil and gas activities.
The programme also reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic expertise in offshore and deepwater engineering, where specialised technical knowledge is essential to project execution and operational reliability.