The oil and gas industry would continue to be manned by foreigners and expats with rapid advancement in technologies used therein, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB)
A statement by the organisation yesterday quoted the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, as having made the comment while delivering a keynote address at the second edition of the virtual stakeholders’ workshop for human capacity development in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
He said:“This will be the case if we do not keep pace with the spate of technological development by developing the human capabilities required for the challenges of modern industrial technologies.
“It is with a view to developing the Nigerian workforce capable of leading and advancing technological developments in the oil and Gas industry and supporting the attainment of Nigerian Local Content aspirations that the proponents of the NOGICD Act deemed it necessary to include clauses that mandate employment and training in the Act,” he said.
He commended efforts of some operating companies and services companies that comply with the directives of the board, noting that the future of the industry will be at risk without adequate investment in human capacity development.
He reiterated that Nigeria is leading Africa in human capacity development in the oil and gas industry despite the challenges.
“I can proudly say that we have the skilled workforce to lead and sustain the development of oil fields in Africa for the foreseeable future. All the major and serious oil and gas operating and service companies have Nigerians in very senior leadership positions and we are beginning to export our workforce across the world”, he added.
He disclosed that the board has trained over 13,000 work force in different skill areas and over 5,000 are gainfully employed in the industry.
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According to him, various capacity development initiatives had been executed by the board, including upgrading and commissioned dilapidated facilities in vocational and tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States.
He said the trainings also include those involving the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in secondary schools and promoted Technical Vocational Educational Systems (TVETS) policy across the country and equipping them.
SOURCE: independent.ng