By Teddy Nwanunobi
The Executive Secretary Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, has tasked the new leadership of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) to prioritise categorisation of its members, according to their capacities and certifications.
Wabote gave the charge recently when he received the new executive of OGTAN, led by its President, Chief Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi, at the Board’s headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He challenged Onyechi to take the association to greater heights through the categorisation of members’ capabilities and identification of niche areas in the oil and gas industry, with high employment opportunities.
Wabote acknowledged that the oil industry trainers’ body recorded significant achievements under the outgoing President, Dr. Mayowa Afe, and challenged the new leadership on continuous improvements and new goals.
According to him, one of the focus areas is the categorisation of members, according to their capacities and certifications.
He said the exercise was a precondition before the Board would consider making it mandatory for companies that seek to offer training services in the oil and gas industry to belong to OGTAN.
“OGTAN should conduct gap analysis in the industry and come up with the niche areas. It is your competitive advantage. We want information on those types of training where there is 60 per cent assurance of jobs in the oil and gas industry,” Wabote said of the identification of job demand areas.
He explained that NCDMB’s strategy for capacity building is hinged on the 60-20-20 principle, whereby 60 per cent of training programmes and budget is dedicated to skills sets that guarantee employment in the oil industry, 20 per cent for the improvement of the skills of persons already employed, and 20 per cent to soft skills and other general areas.
Earlier in his comments, Onyechi explained that the purpose of the visit was to introduce the new executive of the association to the NCDMB management.
He stated that OGTAN has embarked on strategic transformation anchored on categorisation, certification, compliance, collaboration, competence, curriculum, and cost competitiveness.
He said the plan of the group is to promote the training of Nigerians in strategic areas that have huge employment opportunities.
“There are low hanging fruits that can mop up many unemployed Nigerians. They can acquire AP certifications and other relevant certifications and work anywhere in the world.
“There are opportunities that exist in the oil and gas industry which are not being harnessed. We want to partner NCDMB to train Nigerians in those areas. We can help Nigerian graduates and even nongraduates acquire those skills and international certifications that would enable them to work anywhere in this world.
“We intend to bring those opportunities to the limelight and emphasise that skill is a global currency. There are certain certifications, even short courses that one can take within one to three months and get certified internationally,” he said.
