Senator Ede Dafinone, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has launched a three-week oil and gas skills training programme for 100 youths from Delta Central Senatorial District at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun.
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The programme, which focuses on scaffolding and rigging, is part of an empowerment and human capacity development (HCD) initiative designed to prepare young Nigerians for opportunities in the oil and gas sector and other industrial fields where technical safety skills are in high demand.
Participants are expected to undergo intensive practical and theoretical training on equipment handling, installation techniques, maintenance procedures, safety standards, and workplace hazard prevention. At the end of the programme, beneficiaries will receive internationally recognised certificates of competency alongside starter packs containing work tools, safety gear, and other materials needed to begin professional practice.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at PTI, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Board’s Assistant Manager, Government Relations and Stakeholder Engagements, Mr. Teddy Bai, described the initiative as a strategic intervention capable of creating long-term opportunities for young people in Delta State.
He commended Senator Dafinone for “conceptualizing and powering” the programme, noting that the training addresses the growing demand for safety-critical technical skills across project sites in the energy industry.
According to him, “These are core competencies required on every project site, from fabrication yards to offshore platforms.”
Engr. Ogbe explained that the programme aligns with the broader mandate of the NCDMB to strengthen local content and increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas value chain through practical training and workforce development.
He referenced the Board’s Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Programme launched in October 2025 for 10,000 young graduates and technicians across high-demand industry skills, stating that the current Delta Central initiative follows the same objective of preparing Nigerian youths for employability.
He also stressed that scaffolding and rigging skills are not limited to oil and gas operations alone, adding that certified professionals in the field are needed across construction, manufacturing, marine, and infrastructure sectors.
The NCDMB boss charged the training consultant, Oroh Contractors Limited, to maintain high standards throughout the programme.
“We don’t share our brand with people unless we are sure of who we are dealing with,” he said, while emphasising that safety, competence, and discipline must remain non-negotiable throughout the training period.
Engr. Ogbe further praised Senator Dafinone for including starter packs in the programme, describing access to tools as a major challenge facing many trained youths after skill acquisition programmes.
“Access to tools is often the difference between a skill and a job,” he said. “By removing that barrier, careers are being launched. That is empowerment in its truest sense.”
Addressing the participants directly, he urged them to take the opportunity seriously and maintain the right attitude throughout the programme.
“This opportunity is your doorway into the oil and gas industry. Rigging and scaffolding will take you onto project sites, but your attitude will keep you there,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to Senator Dafinone, Olorogun Adelabu Bojor, said the Senator remains committed to youth development and economic empowerment across Delta State.
He noted that the collaboration with NCDMB reflects a deliberate effort to expose young people to practical skills that can improve employability and create sustainable livelihoods.
Bojor added that scaffolding remains a versatile technical skill with applications across multiple industries, urging participants to remain disciplined and committed during the training.
“This is a starting point that can lead to great heights,” he told the trainees.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Oroh Contractors Limited, Chief Patrick Akamovba, thanked Senator Dafinone for supporting initiatives focused on youth empowerment and technical development.
He described the Senator as intentional about creating opportunities for his people through strategic partnerships with organisations like the NCDMB.
Akamovba also encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity and position themselves for future employment opportunities within and outside the oil and gas industry.
In his vote of thanks, he expressed appreciation to the NCDMB leadership for trusting his organisation with the programme and acknowledged Senator Dafinone and his team for their support and presence at the launch ceremony.
