Godwin Oritse
14 February 2012, Sweetcrude, LAGOS – Nigeria’s quest of raising the bar in the nation’s Oil & Gas sector through the local content policy may have received a boost with the advent of a joint venture between the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) and Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries in setting up a N1.65 billion training academy in Nigeria.
The specialised institution to be known as Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy (SaNTA), will be sited at the LADOL Free Zone (LFZ), off the Apapa Pilotage District in Lagos, and is expected to take off soon, according to the business promoters.
Making the partnership deal public at a press conference in Lagos, Monday, representatives of the two organisations said they both believed that Nigeria had a bright future and unlimited potentials, saying this was a what has driven them to invest in the project.
LADOL, a fully indigenous oil and gas company based in the Lagos, which incorporates the LADOL Free Trade Zone, currently has a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) integration contract with Samsung.
Vice President of Samsung Corporation, Mr. Joong Chung, who addressed the media alongside the LADOL Executive Chairman, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, disclosed that the academy, which is expected to gulp about $10 million, is meant for building capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and also for export.
Immediate economic benefit
Mr. Chung said the academy was not for any immediate economic benefit, adding that the idea was in line with the corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility, which he said goes beyond Korea, the corporation’s home country, to the international community.
He noted that when completed, the academy will undertake the training of experts on industrial welding and fabrication for the nation’s oil and gas sector. “We wish to grow local community through international expertise, for the benefit of the industry”, he said.
According to him, the corporation’s huge experience, spanning over four decades in heavy construction, would be brought to bear on the academy.
Executive Chairman of LADOL, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, also disclosed that the founding fathers of the base about 10 years ago came up with a vision to build a world-class logistic facility for the nation’s oil and gas sector as part of its contribution to the development of local content in Nigeria.
He noted that the academy, which is to be located on the LADOL facility near the Apapa Ports Complex, is designed to transfer technology. It will train over 250 students annually in addition to training the trainers.
He stated that under the scheme, experts would be brought from Korea to train the students as well as some trainers, who would in turn train other Nigerians in the form of technology transfer.
“There is need to build adequate capacity to enable Nigerians participate substantially in the local content policy and to this extent, we will liaise with the Nigeria Contend Development and Monitoring Board in the recruitment of the trainees”, he said.
