NCDMB, Renaissance Train 300 Youth for Oil, Gas Operations

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has unveiled a 12-month training programme for 300 young Nigerians to prepare them for technical careers in the country's oil and gas industry as new investments drive demand for skilled local workers.

The programme combines three months of classroom instruction with nine months of practical field training in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering skills that are central to petroleum exploration, production and processing.

According to a statement issued by the board, 240 participants will be trained in Lagos, while the remaining 60 will undergo the programme in Port Harcourt. The trainees emerged from a competitive selection process involving thousands of applicants.

At the inauguration, NCDMB Executive Secretary Felix Ogbe described the initiative as part of the board's efforts to strengthen Nigerian participation across the oil and gas value chain by equipping young professionals with industry-relevant technical skills.

Represented by the Assistant Manager for Human Capacity Development, Tari Bufazi, Mr Ogbe noted that the industry would require more qualified Nigerian professionals as fresh investments gather pace across upstream and midstream operations.

He explained that participants would gain practical field experience alongside internationally recognised certifications, improving their readiness for employment in the petroleum industry.

Ogbe further disclosed that the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering remain essential to the safe and efficient operation of oil and gas facilities, making the programme important for closing critical skills gaps.

Renaissance Africa Energy Company also reaffirmed its commitment to developing indigenous expertise through sustained investment in human capital.

Represented by its General Manager for Nigerian Content Development, Funso Alabi, the company revealed that the curriculum covers mechanical systems, electrical operations, instrumentation and control, software development, networking and cybersecurity to match the changing needs of modern oil and gas operations.

He added that combining classroom learning with field attachments would help participants transition more easily into the workplace.

Building skills for new investments

Nigeria has stepped up efforts to increase local participation in the petroleum industry under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. As more oil and gas projects move towards development, operators are expected to rely increasingly on Nigerian engineers and technicians to execute specialised roles that were once dominated by foreign expertise.

Programmes such as this are intended to build the workforce needed to support those investments while keeping more industry value within the country.

Radial Circle, the programme's lead training provider, expatitated that the participants were selected after a rigorous screening process from the NCDMB database.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Ranti Omole, expressed confidence that the trainees would complete the programme with the practical competence needed to contribute immediately in field operations.

The initiative also supports the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, which seeks to expand local capacity across the oil and gas industry by developing skilled manpower, increasing indigenous participation and reducing reliance on expatriate expertise.