The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has introduced a special Human Capital Development (HCD) Program aimed at training over 10,000 young graduates and technicians in ten high-demand oil and gas skills.
The initiative, called the NCDMB Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program, is designed to equip the next generation of Nigerians with practical skills for top careers in the oil and gas industry and prepare them to participate in major projects recently launched by international and indigenous companies.
Announcing the program on Friday, NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, explained that the initiative would close existing skill gaps identified from reviews of Expatriate Quota applications submitted by operators in the sector. He noted that the Board identified the top career paths through engagements with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and the Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS). NCDMB also relied on its assessment of major upcoming projects and past skill gap reports from agencies such as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
The top ten skills selected include Sub-sea Engineering, Underwater Welding, Control and Automation Engineering, Helicopter Piloting, Seafaring and Vessel Mechanics, Production and Maintenance Engineering, Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), Geoscience Engineering, and Digitization and Digitalization involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Drone operations.
Ogbe stated that the initiative aligns with Section 10(1b) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, which mandates that Nigerians be given first consideration for training and employment in all projects under the Nigerian Content Plan.
The program is open to applicants under 35 years old with OND, HND, or BSc qualifications in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Gas, Welding, and Metallurgy. Eligible disciplines also include Geology, Geophysics, Computer Science, Engineering, and other science-related fields.
Applicants must register through the official portal at nogicjqs.gov.ng/accounts/login by creating or updating their profiles and academic records before completing the registration process for the NCDMB Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program. Each participant can choose up to three preferred skills in order of priority.
Providing more details, NCDMB’s Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, said the skills gap closure program would run for two to three years, with regular reviews to determine if the identified skills remain relevant. “Most of the training will last for at least 12 months, with some extending longer,” he said.
According to him, the training will include classroom instruction, laboratory and workshop practicals, professional certifications, and a minimum of six months of on-the-job training in partnership with service companies. He revealed that at least three service companies will partner with the Board in each skill area, while soft skills training will be handled by OGTAN-registered providers.
Abayomi added that successful trainees who are assessed as competent and field-ready will be included in the Board’s skills database to facilitate employment in line with the NOGICD Act. Participants will also receive monthly stipends, insurance coverage, personal protective equipment (PPE), and medical checks before deployment.
The program follows major oil and gas investments, including the US$2 billion HI Field Gas Project by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Sunlink Energies, announced on October 14, 2025. Other recent projects include the US$550 million UBETA Gas Project by TotalEnergies and the US$5 billion Bonga North Deepwater Project by SNEPCo.
These projects are part of outcomes from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three Presidential Directives for the oil and gas industry, issued in March 2024, which accelerated investments through the revised Nigerian Content Contracting Guidelines. The initiatives aim to advance the Renewed Hope Agenda and support Nigeria’s journey toward a US$1 trillion economy.