By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State are set to formalize processes for closer partnership in order to actualize their shared mandate for human capacity development and advancement of the nation’s oil and gas industry.
This was revealed in a press statement issued to journalists by the office of Corporate Communications for NCDMB.
During an exploratory session held at the Nigerian Content Tower in Yenagoa, on Tuesday, the Managements of the two organizations in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources affirmed their institutional resolve to close skill gaps in the industry. They also agreed on a wide range of initiatives that are to be undertaken in the immediate future.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, while speaking at the exploratory session, recalled his early days as an engineer in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) when PTI was viewed by the Company and other oil industry operators as the ultimate centre for training of technicians in Nigeria.
He added that he was one of those who have continuously advocated for PTI to be a force to reckon with for manpower development, as it is better resourced than similar skills development centres in some countries abroad.
The NCDMB Boss promised to send candidates to the Institute for training but pointed out that a lot has changed in the highly technology-driven oil and gas industry. He advised PTI to strive to keep pace with trends because “Things have changed, technology has moved up and PTI has to move up with technology.”
He agreed with the Management of the PTI, which was led by its Principal and Chief Executive, Dr. Henry A. Adimula, that a joint committee proposed at an earlier meeting in 2020 be expeditiously instituted in order to work out modalities for collaboration, assuring that the Board was prepared to intervene in critical areas through material assistance to the Institute, to advance critical objectives of the organizations.
The forthcoming International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHS), is a signature event of the emerging partnership. It is an initiative of the Management of PTI, which the oil and gas industry regulator and Nigerian Content champion has pledged maximum support and collaboration.
The event is scheduled to take place in Abuja within the last quarter of the year and has already received guarantees of participation from key industry players including the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Some key areas of assistance NCDMB has pledged to PTI include the upgrade of engineering and technical workshops, facilities for virtual learning, staff development programmes through retraining, and industrial placement for staff and students.
Engr. Wabote advised the Management of PTI that for the Institute to achieve its full potential, it has to do more to raise general awareness of its existence and statutory mandate, as well as facilities and capacity-building achievements thus far.
In his own words, “a lot of people know you as an Institute but you have not been able to showcase yourself and market yourself as to how the diploma and certificate programmes provided are vital for oil and gas industry operations. Look for platforms to advertise what you do, including opportunities for conferences.”
Earlier, Dr. Adimula had commended the NCDMB Management for the support provided in the Institute’s plans to establish a research and development centre and the donation of software that has greatly aided capacity development. He also disclosed that PTI is determined to align itself with the aspirations of the nation regarding the oil and gas industry and has been working closely with the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in order to establish operational standards for industry-related skills.
The PTI Boss identified the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) as one significant outcome of the Institute’s collaboration with other key industry players.
On the sideline of the meeting, Engr. Wabote was awarded with the Fellowship of the Petroleum Training Institute (FPTI) by the principal of the Institute.
PTI, which was established in 1973 by the Federal Government as a prerequisite for membership of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to train indigenous middle-level manpower, functions as an Agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
