Ejiofor Alike
Nigerdock has graduated the first batch of professional trainees for the Egina deepwater project and injected $500 million into the development of local capacity to support the increasing demand for local manpower and facilities in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking at the recent graduation of the first batch of the professional trainees at the Nigerdock Training and Development Academy, the head of the Academy, Mr. Emeka Anazia said the Egina on-the-job training programme was intended to graduate 50 graduates and 50 vocational trainees.
He said the journey, which started 15 months ago, would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts all the stakeholders and the invaluable support of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
According to him, over 350,000 man-hours without lost time injury were recorded in 313 training days.
The head of the training academy further stated that 125,200 man-hours without LTI were expended in training the professionals, while 125,200 man-hours without LTI were used to train the vocational trainees.
He noted that the Academy is the first private entity in Nigeria to be made Authorised Training Body (ATB) by the International Institute of Welding.
Also speaking the Nigerian Content Manager at Nigerdock, Mr. Ifeanyi Chime stated that most of the fabrication jobs for the Egina deepwater project were done in Nigerdock.
In his remarks, the Nigerian Content Manager at Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited, Mr. Imo Kalu Imo said the training was conducted by subject matter experts.
“For the graduands, the journey started 15 months ago with three months classroom training. Samsung has keyed into the NCDMB’s aspiration of training Nigerians not only because of the advantages but also to contribute to local capacity development in Nigeria,†Imo explained.
On his part, Total’s Nigerian Content Coordinator for Egina Project, Mr. Taiwo Oshikoya commended Samsung for putting together the training programme, in collaboration with Total and Nigerdock.
Oshikoya also congratulated the graduands for completing the programme.
“The safety record is quite remarkable with zero lost time injury (LTI). It shows that you took safety as top priority. In this industry, safety is the most important,†Oshokoya added.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, disclosed that the agency had approved the training programme as part of its mandate to close gaps in capacity development in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Wabote, who was represented by the Nigerian Content Manager at NCDMB, Mr. Iwhiwhu Maurice, commended Nigerdock for not exceeding the targeted man-hours in executing the training programme.
In line with its commitment to enhance Nigeria’s local capacity and provide competent indigenous workforce for the energy services sector, Nigerdock recently unveiled its re-branded Training and Development Academy.
