A total of 331 young graduates from different academic backgrounds received certificates and awards on Thursday after completing a 12-month Human Capital Development Basic Training Programme on the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited Train 7 Project. The programme, which took place on a live LNG Plant at Finima, Bonny Island, focused on key technical and operational areas such as Lifting and Working at Heights, Marine and Offshore Services, Quality Management Systems, Facility Management and Maintenance, Information and Communication Technology, Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, and Non-Destructive Testing.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, praised the NLNG and its partner companies for what he described as their unwavering commitment to Nigerian Content Development. He said the organisations had given the outgoing trainees opportunities that could shape their future. He explained that the HCD component of the Train 7 Project is “a testament to the successful implementation of the Board’s Human Capital Development Guidelines, 2020,” which aim to ensure that major oil and gas projects contribute meaningfully to the training and empowerment of Nigerians.
He noted that the Train 7 Project, regarded as one of the largest gas infrastructure developments in Africa, has created jobs and offered a platform for grooming young Nigerians with advanced technical and managerial skills. He added that the investments of the NLNG have strengthened local capacity and helped deepen in-country value retention. Represented by the General Manager of Human Capital Development, Mr. Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq, Engr. Ogbe encouraged the trainees to make the most of the opportunity they had been given. He urged them to keep improving themselves and stay open to innovations that could influence the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In a welcome address, the General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, said the company believes strongly in investing in people and equipping them with practical skills and world-class exposure. According to her, this approach is not just a corporate duty but a catalyst for driving economic growth and a sustainable future. She explained that the Basic HCD Training Programme is a statutory requirement under the NOGIC Act, 2010, and forms part of the Nigerian Content Plan for the NLNG Train 7 Project.
Dr. Horsfall also commended the NCDMB for facilitating “the training of literally thousands of Nigerians,” which has enabled participants to gain internationally recognised certifications. She advised the outgoing trainees to make good use of the skills and knowledge acquired during the programme.
A representative of the NLNG Train 7 Project, Engr. Joshua Onemeje, thanked the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Ogbe, for the support given to the project. He also expressed gratitude to the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria facilitators for what he called “a fantastic work done.”
During the vote of thanks, the Nigerian Content Manager of NLNG, Engr. Dagogo Buowari, said HCD “facilitates societal transformation and building a sustainable development.” He described the partnership between the NCDMB and the NLNG as “the gold standard for regulator-operator relationship.” Thirty outstanding trainees were honoured with awards of excellence and cash gifts.
