By John Ikani
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has called for strong support for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in its pursuit of institutional objectives crucial to national development.
The call was made by the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote at the opening of a NASENI-sponsored Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment program themed “Modern Methods of Electrical Installations and Maintenance.”
Engr. Wabote emphasized NASENI’s key mandate of promoting research and development in science, engineering, and technology.
He highlighted the importance of nurturing a dynamic science and engineering infrastructure base for Nigeria to achieve home-initiated and home-sustained industrialization.
The NCDMB boss acknowledged the significance of technical skills such as electrical installations and maintenance, noting their critical role in the industrialization of a nation and their high demand in sectors like oil and gas.
He commended NASENI for organizing training programs that have the potential to address unemployment challenges, particularly among the youth.
The local content chieftain stressed the need for collaboration among government agencies such as the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), and others.
However, Engr. Wabote cautioned that such initiatives must be thoroughly planned from start to finish to ensure their effectiveness.
He cited the example of approximately 2,000 vocational training centers in the Niger Delta region that have decayed or been abandoned due to poor planning.
Speaking further, the E.S emphasized the importance of clearly defined outcomes, stating that training programs should not be conducted merely for the sake of it.
He drew attention to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s Nigerian Oil and Gas Parks Scheme (NOGaPS), noting its potential to utilize the capacities developed through training programs like the one organized by NASENI.
Engr. Wabot further highlighted the alignment between NASENI’s mandate and that of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, which aims to develop local capacities and capabilities across the oil and gas value chain.
While noting that the board has already delivered over 13 million training man-hours and continues to undertake targeted interventions in secondary schools, vocational institutions, and universities, he added that Nigeria occupies a leading position in human capacity development in the oil and gas industry in Africa.
The Special Guest of Honour at the event, former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, affirmed the remarkable performance of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and expressed his desire for close collaboration between the two agencies to advance the nation’s developmental aspirations.
Dr. Jonathan encouraged the trainees to make the best use of the skills they acquire and the start-up packs provided, while urging NCDMB and NASENI to work together towards establishing an excellent vocational training/resource center in Bayelsa State.
Governor Douye Diri, represented by Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, expressed gratitude to NASENI for organizing training programs in critical skill areas in the state. The governor stressed the need for deliberate and well-articulated human capacity development programs, cautioning against ad hoc measures that only address emergencies.
He encouraged the trainees to seize the opportunity for self-improvement and self-employment, discouraging the temptation to sell off their start-up packs for immediate gratification.
In her welcome address, the Acting Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi, expressed gratitude to Dr. Jonathan for returning the agency to the Presidency, allowing it to operate more effectively.
According to her, the ongoing five-day training, is the second in the South-South, adding that 100 youths from the three senatorial districts of Bayelsa State are in attendance.
She explained that the training will help equip a generation of Nigerians that will be able to effectively leverage artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G, among other emerging technologies.
It is worthwhile to note that the five-day training programme began on 9 May and will come to a close on 13 May.
