By John Ikani
A batch of six graduate trainees who recently completed a one-year hands-on programme at PFL Engineering Services Limited, Port Harcourt, on Thursday received certificates at a close-out ceremony attended by Management staff of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and managers of the training programme.
The Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the NCDMB, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, represented by a Manager of the Department, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, expressed appreciation to PFL Engineering and the trainers for the quality programme which he said meets the standards stipulated by the Board.
Ahmed described the training programme as part of the strategic intervention by the NCDMB aimed at building the capacity of Nigerian youths for oil and gas industry-related operations. According to him, “The idea behind interventions like this is to be able to replace expatriates with competent Nigerians,” who have the requisite skills, and thus create employment opportunities for Nigerians and minimise capital flight in the sector.
He lauded the partnership between NCDMB and PFL, which he said has been most fruitful, adding, “We can confidently state that the partnership has yielded very commendable outcomes; it is a success and we are very proud of it.”
Earlier in opening remarks, the General Manager (Technical) of PFL, Mr. Tamunodein West, thanked NCDMB for initiating the training programme and giving the company the privilege to equip the six youth with necessary industry skills that would enhance their employability and quality of life.
He informed the Board that the company was highly impressed with the performance of the trainees and has offered them full employment. He disclosed that the company plans to introduce the new employees to areas of the company’s operations not covered in their training programme.
In closing remarks, PFL’s Nigerian Content and Community Relations Manager, Mr. Douye Gbamila, expressed profound appreciation for the manner in which the NCDMB has handled its programmes for capacity building in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that at the time the Board was newly inaugurated in 2010 and the years after, indigenous companies in the sector, including PFL, were apprehensive that they would be policed in their operations in a manner that could hurt business. According to him, some years down the line, “It dawned on us that NCDMB was for us, not against us.”
Gbamila stated that his company today has recorded milestones in growth and development, onshore and offshore, and that its success is largely attributable to NCDMB’s role as a business enabler. According to him, “Today, we have our facilities offshore; they are solely manned by Nigerians; and this was made possible by NCDMB.”
Continuing, he pointed out, “What NCDMB represents today in this country is unimaginable,” noting that “When you go to [international] conferences and hear what impact the Board has been able to create in Africa, you will be amazed.” According to him, other oil-producing countries on the continent are working with templates developed for them by NCDMB.
He assured the Board of its preparedness for partnership in skills acquisition programmes for Nigerian youths, stating that the young technicians who just completed their own training would make a lot of difference in the material conditions of their respective families.
The beneficiaries of the recently concluded programme, namely, Kelvin Akogun, Precious Ogbeide, Temple Ezekiel, Henry Umeanor, Ininifi Aboyewa, and Adebayor Okiki, received training in Non-destructive Testing (NDT), Scaffolding, Rope Access, Lifting and Slinging, Information Technology (IT), and Entrepreneurship, among other skill sets.
The NCDMB team was led by Mr. Mohammed Ahmed and Mr. Emmanuel Umeanya, Manager, Downstream.
