Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a significant move to strengthen local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in partnership with WASCO Oil Services and TotalEnergies, has officially flagged off a one-year intensive training programme on Rig Site Cutting Services and Treatment.
The launch ceremony took place at the Casoni International Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The specialized programme, which will span 12 months, is designed to equip young Nigerians with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills critical to oilfield operations.
Participants will undergo extensive classroom sessions as well as on-the-job training, covering modules such as Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Solid Control Equipment, Project Management (with PM certification), T-BOSIET, Document Control, and Nigerian Content Awareness, among others.
Representing the Executive Secretary of NCDMB at the ceremony, Mr. Joseph Samuel, Supervisor of Human Capacity Development, HCD, reaffirmed the Board’s mandate to grow Nigerian content across the oil and gas value chain by deepening local expertise.
“Developing in-country capacity remains a cardinal aspect of the NCDMB mandate, and we will continue to invest in human capital development until that mandate is fully realized,” he said.
He also emphasized the broader goal of enhancing indigenous participation in oilfield operations, noting that a highly skilled Nigerian workforce is vital for achieving long-term sustainability in the industry.
“This programme is not just about training, it’s about transformation. We are equipping young Nigerians with the right tools, resources, and mindset to drive local content from the frontlines,” Samuel added.
As part of onboarding, all trainees took an oath of conduct to guide their behaviour and professional ethics throughout the training duration.
The formal presentation of the programme’s training deliverables underscored the commitment of the stakeholders to ensure a world-class learning experience.
WASCO and TotalEnergies executives, present at the event, lauded the collaboration with NCDMB and expressed optimism that the trainees would emerge as valuable assets to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
