By Ali Elias
Forty-one young Nigerian graduates have commenced a 12-month intensive training programme on Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) under the Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (HCD) initiative of Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The trainees, shortlisted from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS), began the programme on Thursday at a kick-off ceremony held in Port Harcourt. The initiative is designed to strengthen local technical capacity and prepare a new cadre of skilled professionals for critical roles within and beyond Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The hands-on training will cover plant management, non-destructive testing techniques for inspection and evaluation of materials and structures, welding booth operations, and the use of ceiling boards manufactured from composite materials to optimise strength, among other specialised courses.
Speaking at the event, the Manager, Human Capital Development at the NCDMB, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena, commended Chevron for sustaining its investment in capacity building, describing the programme as evidence of a shared commitment “to shaping the next generation of Nigerian energy professionals.”
Mrs. Teide-Bribena, who represented the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said Chevron’s collaboration with the Board and other industry stakeholders reinforces the company’s position as “a dependable champion of human capital development.”
She also acknowledged the role of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) in promoting professionalism and maintaining “standards that continue to elevate the quality and relevance of industry training in our country.”
According to her, the TAM programme bridges the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that beneficiaries graduate with both knowledge and competence. “Through this training, theory becomes married with practice and knowledge with competence, and the beneficiaries are prepared for productivity in critical roles in and out of the oil and gas industry,” she said.
The NCDMB HCD Manager charged the training firm, Geoscape Limited, to go beyond technical instruction by instilling sound values, discipline and strong work ethics in the trainees. “When we invest in people we don’t just strengthen local content, we secure Nigeria’s energy future,” she added.
In his remarks, Chevron’s Capacity Development Advisor, Mr. Victor Inyere, said the programme reflected the company’s enduring commitment to Nigerian Content development and human capital advancement.
“We firmly believe that empowering the youth in this country is essential to building an innovative and sustainable workforce to support the energy and allied sectors,” Inyere said.
He reminded the trainees that their selection was earned on merit, stressing that the opportunity came with responsibility. According to him, the months ahead would demand “discipline, focus and some sense of responsibility” from participants.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Geoscape Limited, Mrs. Modupe Jegede, thanked Chevron for entrusting the firm with the execution of a programme of such scale, as well as for the support provided.
She also highlighted the transformative impact of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act on indigenous companies, noting that it had been instrumental to the growth of her organisation.
“We are in business today because of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act,” she said. “We wouldn’t have been given a chance because the IOCs would have been buying their materials directly from their home countries, but the NOGICD Act ensures that Nigerian companies benefit.”
As part of the formal commencement of the programme, all 41 trainees undertook to maintain good conduct throughout the training period, in line with the Code of Conduct for NCDMB-nominated trainees. The undertaking was administered by an HCD supervisor at the Board, Mr. Suleiman Amolegbe.
The Chevron HCD/TAM programme is one of several initiatives aimed at deepening Nigerian Content, enhancing employability and building a sustainable skills base for the country’s energy sector.