The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has launched a 12-month Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Programme for 300 young Nigerians to prepare them for careers in the petroleum industry.
The programme targets graduates in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering. It includes three months of classroom training followed by nine months of practical field experience with partner oil and gas service companies.
According to a statement signed by the NCDMB General Manager of Corporate Communications, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, 240 participants will undergo training in Lagos, while the remaining 60 will be trained in Port Harcourt. The trainees were selected through a competitive process.
Speaking at the inauguration, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Felix Ogbe, represented by the Assistant Manager, Human Capacity Development, Tari Bufazi, said the initiative aligns with the board’s mandate to build local capacity, increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas industry and create employment opportunities.
Ogbe said the programme would provide participants with practical industry experience and globally recognized certifications. He described it as the beginning of a journey that would equip young Nigerians with world-class skills in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering.
He noted that expertise in automation, instrumentation and engineering operations remains vital to the safe and efficient development of Nigeria’s petroleum resources, particularly as the sector prepares for new investments.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Olarenwaju Olawuyi, represented by Funso Alabi, said the company remains committed to strengthening indigenous capacity through investment in human capital.
According to him, the programme combines classroom learning with hands-on training in mechanical systems, electrical operations, instrumentation and control, software development, networking and cybersecurity. He urged participants to embrace professionalism, integrity, teamwork and a strong safety culture alongside technical competence.
The Chief Executive Officer of Radial Circle, the programme’s lead training provider, Ranti Omole, said the participants were selected from thousands of applicants in the NCDMB database after a rigorous screening process. He added that the training is designed to produce industry-ready professionals capable of making immediate contributions in operational environments.
Stakeholders said the initiative supports the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act and the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap by expanding the pool of skilled Nigerian professionals needed to drive growth in the country’s energy sector.
