NCDMB partners gas firm on skill development centre

Chinazor Megbolu

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has partnered with the ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited in a bid to complete the Center for Skills Development and Training (CSDT).

The centre, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, NCDMB management said that construction work had been stopped since 2014, due to lack of funds after it was conceived by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The NCDMB added that PTDF actually set up the centre in order to train and increase the competence and capabilities of citizens towards meeting up with the low-to-middle level human resources needs of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, in a statement noted that the board resumed discussions with PTDF in late 2019 on areas of collaboration to complete and operationalise the centre.

He buttressed that ANOH Gas Processing Company was engaged to complete the project under the NCDMB’s intervention tool known as Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) projects.

“CDI projects are utilised in collaboration with operators and service providers in the oil and gas industry to address identified gaps in local capacities and seize opportunities to grow local capabilities,” he said.

Wabote, while commending the diligence and pragmatism of ANOH in identifying with the project as its CDI and re-mobilisation of the contractor to site, with a view to completing the skill center in readiness for students’ intake and utilisation.

He, however, maintained that making the facility functional would promote skill development and attainment of one of the board’s mandate of developing local capacities and capabilities and the Technical Capacity Development Pillar of the 10-year strategic roadmap.

According to him; “globally, achievement of the local content agenda is hinged on domiciling value-adding activities and this is heavily dependent on locally available skilled manpower.

“It is in recognition of the critical role that skilled manpower plays in the development of local content that the Board has Technical Capability Development as one of the strategic pillars of its 10-Year Strategic Roadmap”.

Wabote pointed out that the completion and utilisation of the project will be a major achievement of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the president was eager to finish off abandoned government projects.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited, Mr. Okechukwu Mba, in his address, averred that the company decided to collaborate with the NCDMB in order to contribute to the development of skilled professionals, who will work in the oil and gas sector.

“I am particularly happy for the benefits the country stands to gain from the completion of this facility. It will produce youths equipped with relevant skills they require to pursue a rewarding career in the oil and gas industry,” Mba said