PTDF: Establishes Port Harcourt Skills Centre Committee for Training

• The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has inaugurated a committee to develop an operational framework and curriculum for the Centre for Skills Development and Training in Port Harcourt.
• The committee, led by Chairman Ibe Kachikwu and inaugurated by PTDF Executive Secretary Shuaibu Aliyu, aims to address shortages of qualified Nigerian technical manpower in the oil and gas and wider energy sectors.
• The Port Harcourt skills development centre, approximately 98% complete, will offer competency-based vocational training and internationally recognized certifications in fields like welding, electrical works, and industrial safety.
• The committee's mandate includes designing curricula, establishing pathways for employment, and fostering partnerships with various industry and government stakeholders.
• Skills development is deemed essential for economic growth, local participation in the energy value chain, and Africa's role in the global energy transition.

The primary objective is to address the significant shortage of qualified Nigerian technical manpower across the oil and gas and broader energy sectors.

The Federal Government, acting through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has established a specialized committee tasked with developing the operational framework and an industry-focused curriculum for the Centre for Skills Development and Training located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This initiative, inaugurated by Shuaibu Aliyu, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, aims to expedite the full commencement of the Port Harcourt skills development centre's operations. The primary objective is to address the significant shortage of qualified Nigerian technical manpower across the oil and gas and broader energy sectors.

The inauguration ceremony took place on a Thursday in Abuja. Following the event, the PTDF issued a statement quoting Mr. Aliyu, who emphasized the committee's role in reviewing the centre's existing systems, identifying operational deficiencies, and formulating practical recommendations to ensure the facility's optimal utilization. He further noted that the centre is nearing completion, with approximately 98 percent of its construction finished. Its comprehensive infrastructure includes an administrative building, an auditorium, a library, hostels, staff quarters, a canteen, and essential power and water facilities.

The establishment of the Port Harcourt skills development centre directly responds to findings from a PTDF skills audit, which previously identified a critical lack of qualified Nigerian technical workers, particularly in middle-level and technical occupations within the oil and gas industry. This new committee is therefore central to bridging these identified gaps through targeted training.

The centre is specifically designed to deliver competency-based vocational training and offer internationally recognized certifications. These programs will cater to technicians, artisans, and craftsmen in various essential fields, including welding and fabrication, electrical works, industrial safety, automobile maintenance, and heavy-duty equipment maintenance. The facility has already been utilized for activities under the PTDF Overseas Scholarship Scheme and In-Country Scholarship Scheme, as well as for training programs organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement, demonstrating its readiness for expanded operations.

The PTDF Port Harcourt skills centre committee has been given a broad and detailed mandate to ensure the centre's success. Its terms of reference include developing a robust operational policy and management framework, alongside designing competency-based curricula that are closely aligned with current industry requirements. The committee is also responsible for recommending effective training, assessment, and certification systems.

Furthermore, the committee is tasked with establishing clear pathways for internships, apprenticeships, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship for trainees. A crucial aspect of its work involves fostering partnerships with various stakeholders, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, educational institutions, professional organizations, industry operators, and service companies. This collaborative approach is intended to create a supportive ecosystem for skills development. The panel will also prepare a comprehensive implementation framework, detailing timelines, responsibilities, monitoring indicators, and reporting mechanisms.

Ibe Kachikwu, who serves as the committee chairman, expressed gratitude to the PTDF management for their confidence in the members. He underscored the vital role of skills development in fostering economic growth, enhancing local participation within the energy value chain, and ensuring Africa's effective engagement in the global energy transition. Mr. Kachikwu pledged the committee's full commitment to delivering a thorough review and a practical operationalization framework for the centre.

The PTDF Port Harcourt skills centre committee comprises a diverse group of experts and representatives from key sectors. Notable members include Christopher Osarunwense, Chairman of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria; Folorunsho Akande from the National Board for Technical Education; Anthony Adegbulugbe, CEO of Green Energy International; and Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress. Academic representation includes Mohammed Dauda of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Ayodele Ajayi of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Regulatory bodies are represented by Zainab Dutse and Prof Gobir from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and Mrs. V.U. Akpagher from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Additionally, representatives from Dangote Refinery, the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, and other relevant stakeholder organizations are part of this crucial Petroleum Technology Development Fund committee.

Lawyers advising clients in the Nigerian oil and gas and energy sectors should monitor the operational framework and curriculum developed by this committee. Its recommendations could influence future local content requirements, workforce development policies, and certification standards, impacting compliance strategies and potential partnership opportunities for companies operating in these sectors.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch