Firm invests N1.2b on training of Nigerians

ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), has invested over N1.2bn ($6 Million) in training 132 Nigerians under the Nigerian Human Capital Development aspect of its Erha North Phase 2 Development project.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the training in Lagos recently, the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development of the company, Mr.Olusola Ogunsakin, said the training, which was conducted both in Nigeria and overseas, covered various aspects of oil and gas industry operations including engineering, sub-sea drilling, fabrication/assembly, offshore installation and project management, among others.

He said that the training was for a total of 143, 308 man-hour, adding that of the 132 Nigerians trained, 69 have already been offered permanent employment by prominent oil and gas companies owing to the quality of the training they received.

Noting that ExxonMobil was proud to be contributing to Nigeria’s human capacity development through its affiliate EEPNL, in compliance with and in support of the Nigerian Content Development policy.

Ogunsakin urged the participants to utilise the competencies acquired during their various training programmes to contribute meaningfully to the development of the industry.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe, who was represented at the occasion by the Manager, Human Capital Development at the NCDMB, Mrs. Michele Aiyegbusi, commended ExxonMobil and the facilitating companies for the training programme, adding that the NHCD initiative of NCDMB was designed to create opportunities for training of young Nigerians in white and blue collar disciplines, “offering them relevant classroom training and practical experience with a view to preparing them for the oil and gas industry.”

The NCDMB Boss expressed happiness that about 70 per cent of the participants at the training had gained employment, noting that since 2010, the NCDMB had trained over 2, 000 Nigerians in project-based training programmes, while its direct intervention programmes have also been extended to over 600 Nigerians.