Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s drive to deepen indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector is gaining renewed institutional backing as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, intensifies stakeholder engagement aimed at strengthening human capital development for industry competitiveness.
This came to the fore when the Emir of Lapai, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Bago Tafida III, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, at the Fund’s headquarters in Abuja, in what industry observers describe as part of widening non-governmental support for energy sector skills development.
The engagement highlights the increasing recognition of human capital as a critical growth driver in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, particularly at a time when the sector is undergoing reforms focused on technology transfer, local content expansion, and global competitiveness.
Welcoming the Emir and his delegation, the PTDF Executive Secretary said the Fund remains strategically focused on building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and sustaining Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
“PTDF remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote human capital development and national progress,” Professor Aliyu said, reaffirming the Fund’s mandate to develop technical expertise for the energy sector.
From the traditional institution side, the Emir of Lapai used the visit to underscore confidence in PTDF’s leadership and its role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy future through capacity development.
“Your appointment is a clear testament to your outstanding track record, dedication, and the wealth of experience you bring to the table,” the Emir said. “We are confident that under your visionary leadership, PTDF will reach new heights in fulfilling its mandate to build capacity, drive innovation, and domesticate technology within the Nigerian oil and gas sector.”
The Emir also emphasized the importance of aligning energy sector development with youth empowerment, noting that the Lapai Emirate Council is particularly interested in programmes that enhance skills acquisition and employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The engagements reflect a broader trend in Nigeria’s oil and gas ecosystem, where human capital development is increasingly being positioned alongside infrastructure and investment as a core pillar of sector growth.
In response, Professor Aliyu said PTDF would continue to prioritise indigenous capacity building as a strategic requirement for sustaining long-term growth in the petroleum industry.
He assured stakeholders that the Fund would strengthen partnerships aimed at expanding technical training, research support, and innovation-driven programmes for the sector.
The visit, which concluded with the exchange of gifts between both parties, is seen as part of ongoing efforts to deepen institutional collaboration around Nigeria’s energy workforce development agenda at a time when global oil and gas operations are becoming increasingly technology-driven and skills-intensive.
