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NCDMB kicks off National Occupational Standards project

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has inaugurated new chapter in human capital development (HCD) for enhanced local content implementation in the hydrocarbons sub-sector.

This was unveiled on Tuesday by the Oil and Gas Sector Skills Council and the launch of National Occupational Standards (NOS) Project.

The project was recommended by the Education and Training Sector Working Group of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF), an organ of the NCDMB.

A statement posted on the website, https://ncdmb.gov.ng/ said the Council and NOS project were informed by strategic thinking on how to firm up the drive for a thriving and globally competitive oil and gas sector deeply rooted in local content.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, who performed the inauguration in Lagos, was quoted as saying: “In our dynamic and ever-evolving industry, it is essential that we continuously adapt and equip our workforce with the essential competencies, skills, and knowledge that will enable them to excel.”

He noted that a “standardised approach to workforce development,” as envisaged through the NOS project to be implemented in conjunction with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He added that this would ensure constant availability of a pool of top-grade human resources, “a skilled and competent local workforce for the continued growth and sustainability of our nation’s oil and gas industry.”

Wabote shared insights from experiences of countries renowned for effective occupational standards, noting that “Learning from the best is an essential step in ensuring the success of our own endeavour.” The United Kingdom, he pointed out, “is a global leader in developing and implementing effective occupational standards,” with an approach “characterized by rigorous research, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous monitoring.”

That country’s National Occupational Standards, he noted, “are regularly updated to reflect industry developments, ensuring relevance and alignment with current needs.”

The practice is the same in Germany, famed for its “strong emphasis on apprenticeships and vocational training, resulting in a highly skilled workforce,” in Singapore, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

He added that the current framework aims to achieve “standardized benchmarks for skills and competencies, ensuring a consistent and high-quality workforce in the oil and gas sector.”

Also, alignment, “By actively involving industry experts, academic institutions, regulators and other key stakeholders” “to ensure that the standards align with the specific needs of our industry.”  

He assured that “Our commitment to continuous improvement [the third objective of the framework] means that the NOS will evolve to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the oil and gas sector,” and that “Regular reviews and updates are therefore required to keep standards relevant and up to date.”

Under Quality Assurance, he disclosed that “The establishment of a system for accrediting training providers, with the assistance of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) aims to guarantee the delivery of high-quality education and training programmes.”

Lifelong Learning, as an objective, is to be supported as well as promotion of a culture of skills development and professional growth, ensuring that our workforce remains competitive on a global scale.”

The current framework aims to achieve standardized benchmarks for skills and competencies, ensuring a consistent and high-quality workforce in the oil and gas sector.

Skills development and capacity building

In a goodwill message, the representative of the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, expressed delight that the inauguration of the Sector Skills Council would advance skills development and capacity building in an industry he described as strategic to the national economy.

He said the NUPRC is committed to ensuring that the highest standards of efficiency and safety as well as environmental sustainability are attained in the oil and gas sector, and that the collaborative nature of the Council, which comprises knowledgeable and dedicated individuals from industry, academia, and regulatory bodies, promises to align all stakeholders with the pursuit of the best for the industry and the nation.

He expressed gratitude to stakeholders, particularly the NCDMB and NBTE, for their contributions toward the establishment of the Council.

Goodwill messages were also given by representatives of the NNPC Limited, Dorman Long Engineering, Shell Nigeria, and SEPLAT. All of them commended the NCDMB and NBTE for their foresight and commitment that made the Oil and Gas Sector Skills Council a reality, noting that the initiative was crucial for developing internationally recognized skills and occupational standards.      

In concluding remarks, the General Manager of Capacity Building Division, NCDMB, Dr. Ama Ikuru, outlined the vision for 2024, noting that significant impact would be made in job creation and industry-wide growth.      

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