NCDMB Launches Training Program to Equip 10,000 Nigerians with High-Demand Oil and Gas Skills

Application Deadline : Unspecified

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled a transformative Human Capital Development (HCD) initiative aimed at equipping over 10,000 Nigerians with globally competitive skills for the oil and gas industry. Known as the NCDMB Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program, this strategic move comes as Nigeria experiences renewed investments and major new projects across the energy sector.

The program seeks to bridge critical skill gaps and position young Nigerians to take full advantage of opportunities in the country’s evolving oil and gas landscape. It aligns with the federal government’s drive to build a highly skilled workforce that can actively participate in and benefit from the growing wave of Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) and capital-intensive projects in the sector.

Preparing Nigeria’s Workforce for the Future of Energy

Speaking at the announcement, NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, highlighted that the Field Readiness Program was designed to address specific skill shortages identified through the Board’s review of expatriate quota applications and consultations with leading industry stakeholders. These include the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), and Petroleum Contractors Trade Section (PCTS).

Ogbe explained that the program builds on insights from the portfolios of upcoming projects and findings from earlier skills gap studies conducted by agencies such as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). By aligning training with real market needs, the initiative ensures that Nigerian graduates and technicians are not only trained but also job-ready for both local and international oil and gas opportunities.

Top 10 Skills in Demand for the Oil and Gas Sector

The NCDMB has identified ten key career paths for its Field Readiness Program. These include:

Subsea Engineering (wellheads, flowlines, umbilicals, and subsea trees)
Underwater Welding
Control and Automation Engineering (cementing, well controls, and rig operations)
Helicopter Piloting
Seafaring and Marine Engineering (vessel mechanics and electricians)
Production and Maintenance Engineering (control room operations, maintenance crew)
QA/QC Engineering (including Non-Destructive Testing Levels 1–3)
Geoscience Engineering (seismic, geophysics, and wellsite geology)
Digitization and Digitalization (AI, ML, IoT, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Drones, etc.)

These focus areas are projected to be the most relevant for upcoming projects and future innovations in the oil and gas industry.

Empowering Young Nigerians through Skill Development

The program is open exclusively to Nigerian youths under the age of 35 who hold OND, HND, or BSc degrees in disciplines such as Petroleum, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Chemical, Gas, Welding, Metallurgy, Geology, Geophysics, and Computer Science or Engineering.

According to Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, NCDMB’s Director of Capacity Building, the initiative will be implemented over a two- to three-year period. The training will involve four major components: classroom learning, laboratory and workshop practicals, skill certifications, and on-the-job training (OJT). The OJT segment will last a minimum of six months, conducted in collaboration with partner service companies to provide real field experience.

Each skill area will be supported by at least three service companies and accredited training providers registered with the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN). Soft skills, safety certifications, and mentorship components will also be incorporated to ensure participants gain comprehensive professional readiness.

Abayomi noted that participants will receive monthly stipends, personal protective equipment (PPE), medicals, and insurance coverage during the program. Graduates assessed as field-ready will be added to the NCDMB’s national skills database, giving them visibility and access to employment opportunities across the industry in line with Section 10(1b) of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, which mandates first consideration for Nigerians in training and employment.

A Strategic Response to Renewed Industry Growth

The announcement comes on the heels of major FIDs and new oil and gas investments that signal renewed confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector. Recent projects include the US$2 billion HI Field Gas Project by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, US$550 million UBETA Gas Project by TotalEnergies, and the US$5 billion Bonga North Deepwater Project also by SNEPCo.

These projects, and others in the pipeline, stem from the three Presidential Directives issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024 to unlock investment potential and fast-track growth in the oil and gas industry. The NCDMB’s revised Nigerian Content Contracting Guidelines have played a pivotal role in achieving these milestones, helping to accelerate job creation and advance the government’s vision of building a US$1 trillion economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

How to Apply

Participants are required to register and update their profiles on the official NOGIC JQS portal (nogicjqs.gov.ng) and may choose up to three preferred skills under the program.

Individuals can only select maximum of three (03) skills under the program in the order of their preferred priority.

Through the Oil and Gas Field Readiness Training Program, NCDMB is ensuring that Nigerians are not left behind in this next phase of industrial expansion. By building a future-ready, technically skilled workforce, the Board is strengthening the nation’s capacity for innovation, self-reliance, and sustainable development.

Fir more information and to register, CLICK HERE

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