Samsung, NLNG renew hope for local shipbuilding, train 60 in South Korea

Determined to grow local capacity in shipbuilding and engineering-related disciplines in the oil and gas sector, Samsung Heavy industries Nigeria in partnership with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), have sponsored over 60 Nigerian youths for training in Geoje, South Korea.

Speaking to newsmen at the departure point, General Manager, Samsung Heavy Industries in Nigeria, Frank Ejizu, stated that the beneficiaries would be trained in different aspects of ship building, fabrication, painting, scaffolding, welding, naval architecture, ship design, fittings, mechanical and maintenance and other related ship building development.

According to him, the trainees would be engaged at the completion of the training programme. He said the company is determined to drive local content initiative through empowering Nigerians on training programmes to bridge the gap in engineering proficiency in the country.

According to him, “The initiative is actually human capacity development. We have a project with NLNG, which calls for training Nigerians in Korea for manning the NLNG vessels. So, that is why we had shortlisted these youths to go to Korea for training.

“It would make no sense to empower people in various skills in a given area and, and then dump them like trash.  That I think is not a wise venture that any business should risk.

They are been given a broad based training and when they are through and are back, we would definitely absorb them when eventually the vessels come in and are ready.

He argued that over time, the trainees so far been engaged by the company for such scheme, has positively encouraged the company to do more.

“Going down memory lane, the process has been very fruitful, because the ones we have sent out so far have conducted themselves and that alone is an encouragement to us to further seek out more opportunities to engage in capacity building schemes for Nigerians that would benefit the country’s economy when such skills is put to work.

“They had composed themselves in an enviable manner and did the best by learning the trade. We hope that the trend of such hallmark would continue and we relent not in capacity development.

“However, we are open in the selection because it is opened to all and “the selection was broad based. We throw in an interview and if you are selected or passed the exams, you will be selected.

There were criteria’s and if you meet them, then you would be shortlisted and then sent to Korea for training,” he said. The development came barely a month when the company trained about 57 Nigerians who were certified in ship building and other aspects of ship development at the Samsung Heavy Shipyard in Korea.