Kaduna refinery promise to consider PTDF-trained welders for employment

The Managing Director, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Mr Adewale Ladenegan, said welders trained under the Petroleum Technology Fund programme would be employed to work for the refinery.

The PTDF disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, on Tuesday, after the graduation ceremony of the second batch of PTDF-trained welders on Post Training Attachment Programme.

He said that the refinery required the services of welders to function effectively and optimally.

He said collaboration between the refinery and the Fund in enhancing the skills and competencies of Nigerians for active participation in the oil and gas industry would maximize value in the industry.

“KRPC requires the services of the welders to function optimally. You can see in the refinery, we have pipelines all over and the only way that we can maintain them is through welding.

“We need skilled welders to be able to carry out maintenance activities. We believe that the trainees have been given the best skills that anybody can be given in the industry.

“We believe they are good and therefore we have the plan that when we want to recruit, they will be considered first because they have worked with us and we know what stuff they are made of.

“Let me add this also that we must encourage them not to rely on paid employment. In this country, everybody should be encouraged to first look at the option of being self-employed because it’s more fulfilling,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Operations, Mr Thaddeus Tsavnande, said the idea to employ the trained welder to work in the refinery was a step in the right direction.

“As a build up to this graduation ceremony, I asked the people directly responsible for the training, if they can employ these trainees. The answer was in affirmative.

“I’m saying this because the refinery cannot do without welders. We have over a million pipelines and to repair or patch them is by welding; So, I want to congratulate my future staff members.

“In the near future, we will be looking for people like you and of course you have got the training.

“And I’m sure it will be easy for us to absorb you, so that you seamlessly enter the job,’’ he said.