Hope for graduates as NCDMB offers training for 10,000 in high-demand oil and gas skills

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has launched the Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Programme to equip 10,000 young Nigerians with high-demand technical skills needed in the oil and gas sector.

According to NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbe, the initiative is part of a Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy designed to bridge critical skill gaps in the industry and prepare Nigerians for new job opportunities emerging from major oil and gas projects.

Ogbe said the programme was developed after reviewing expatriate quota applications from industry operators and consulting with key stakeholders, including the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS).

The board also relied on findings from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and other agencies to identify ten priority skills.

These include:
Sub-sea Engineering (wellheads, flowlines, umbilicals, sub-sea trees)
Underwater Welding
Control and Automation Engineering (cementing, well controls, rig operations)
Helicopter Piloting
Marine Operations (Seamen, Vessel Mechanics/Electricians)
Production and Maintenance Engineering (Control Room Operations, Maintenance Crew)
QA/QC Engineering (NDT Levels 1, 2, and 3)

Geoscience Engineering (Seismic, Geophysics, Wellsite Geology)
Digital and Data Technologies (AI, Machine Learning, IoT, Cloud Computing, Drones)

Participation is open to Nigerians under 35 years old with OND, HND, or BSc qualifications in relevant fields such as Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Gas, Welding, Metallurgy, Geology, Geophysics, and Computer Science/Engineering.

Applicants are required to register and update their profiles at nogicjqs.gov.ng, after which they can select up to three preferred skill areas.

NCDMB’s Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, stated that the training will span two to three years, combining classroom sessions, laboratory work, certifications, and at least six months of on-the-job training (OJT) in partnership with service companies.

Participants will receive medical screening, monthly stipends, personal protective equipment (PPE), and insurance coverage.

Successful trainees will be added to NCDMB’s skill database to be connected with potential employers in line with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

The programme follows major investments recently announced in the sector, including Shell’s $2 billion HI Field Gas Project, TotalEnergies’ $550 million UBETA Gas Project, and the $5 billion Bonga North Deepwater project.

These initiatives are part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at driving a $1 trillion economy through industrial expansion and local content development.