The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged enhanced backing for the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) to build a competitive, world-class workforce capable of driving upcoming energy projects. Speaking at the OGTAN Human Capital Development Conference and Expo in Warri, Delta State, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, highlighted that President Bola Tinubu’s incentive-driven reforms have restored investor confidence and de-risked capital in the sector. However, Lokpobiri warned that Nigeria risks a critical skills deficit if local training frameworks fail to keep pace with modern, AI-driven industry standards, noting that many academic materials have operated on outdated blueprints.
To bridge this gap, the government is strengthening national training capacity through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act. Lokpobiri urged OGTAN’s more than 400 members to expand their reach across Africa, emphasizing that neighboring nations such as Angola, Congo, and Gabon increasingly depend on Nigerian-trained expertise. Despite these government commitments, industry leaders, regulators, and academics; including representatives from NCDMB, ND Western, the Industrial Training Fund, and OGTAN cautioned that local graduates currently lack sufficient practical exposure, digital tools, and quality system training required to execute upcoming Final Investment Decisions.
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