The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has launched a new Human Capacity Development (HCD) Training Programme on Underwater Welding and Commercial Diving aimed at equipping young Nigerians with technical skills needed in the country’s oil and gas sector.
The programme, which commenced in Warri, Delta State, is focused on the 14.4-kilometre sectional replacement of pipeline infrastructure under OML 30. According to the Board, the initiative is part of efforts to deepen local participation in Nigeria’s offshore energy industry and build indigenous technical capacity.
Speaking during the kick-off ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe (FNSE, FIPS), represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Mrs. Alexis Emelle, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future workforce.
She explained that the training will run for 12 months and will combine six months of classroom learning with another six months of practical on-the-job training. The programme is expected to train 15 young Nigerians in underwater welding and commercial diving.
According to Emelle, the skills being taught are critical to the maintenance, safety and sustainability of offshore oil and gas infrastructure across the country.
“This programme is not just about technical training. It is about developing Nigerian capacity and creating opportunities for young people within the oil and gas industry,” she said.
She added that the initiative aligns with the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap and supports the Board’s mandate to promote local content development, create employment opportunities and drive economic growth through capacity building.
The NCDMB also commended Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) for supporting the initiative and partnering with the Board to develop Nigerian talent in specialised areas of the energy industry.
Emelle urged the trainees to remain disciplined and committed throughout the programme, noting that the training could open doors to long-term career opportunities within Nigeria’s offshore energy sector.
Representatives of Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited, Joemarine Institute Of Nautical Studies and Research, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, and the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, also praised the initiative and encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity.
The Board noted that specialised programmes such as underwater welding and commercial diving are becoming increasingly important as Nigeria continues to invest in the maintenance and expansion of offshore pipeline infrastructure.
The NCDMB delegation at the event included the General Manager, Human Capital Development, Mrs. Alexis Emelle; Mr. Lotana Onyekachi, Senior Supervisor, Capacity Building Directorate; and Mr. Henry Alogidi of the Corporate Communications Division of the Board.
