Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria is deepening strategic investments in human capacity development as part of efforts to transform its oil and gas sector and position the country as Africa’s energy hub, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has said.
Lokpobiri disclosed this while highlighting the expanding partnership between the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, UTP, Malaysia, describing the collaboration as critical to aligning education with industry needs and national energy priorities.
“Human capacity building remains central to strengthening the alignment between education, industry needs, and Nigeria’s national energy priorities, especially as we transform our oil sector and position Nigeria as an energy hub for Africa,” Lokpobiri stated.
He said engagements with UTP’s management and Nigerian students studying at the institution demonstrated that the university delivers the quality of education, industry exposure and innovation-driven training required to support Nigeria’s long-term energy ambitions.
“UTP delivers the quality of education, industry exposure, and innovation-driven training required to support Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s energy hub,” the minister said.
Lokpobiri explained that the PTDF is advancing plans to model the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, CPESK, after the PETRONAS–UTP ecosystem, with a focus on building an integrated, industry-led framework that combines education, training, research and innovation.
“As PTDF progresses plans to model CPESK after the PETRONAS–UTP ecosystem, our focus remains on building an integrated, industry-led framework that combines education, training, research, and innovation,” he noted.
He added that the strategy also includes plans to institute split-site academic programmes between CPESK and international partners, similar to existing arrangements with three universities in the United Kingdom.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s long-standing bilateral relationship with Malaysia is being strengthened further under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration, with the goal of deepening local content and building a globally competitive energy workforce.
“Adapting this proven model will deepen local content, enhance workforce capacity, and establish a sustainable centre of excellence serving Nigeria and the African continent,” Lokpobiri said.
The PTDF–UTP partnership is expected to play a pivotal role in supplying skilled manpower for Nigeria’s evolving oil, gas and energy sectors, while reinforcing the country’s drive to become a regional hub for energy expertise and innovation.
