Peace Obi

The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), recognizes the link between the quality of a nation’s workforce and its economic growth, against this backdrop, the Association in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has concluded arrangements to host its second annual international conference and exhibition in Lagos.

It noted that the conference is its direct response to the skills gap in the country, especially in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, adding that the Association has concluded arrangements to assemble resource persons to deliberate on the solutions as it relates to generating sustainable employment with a direct impact on the country’s GDP.

 The conference with a theme, “Human Capital Development: as a Driver for National Transformation” will hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos from 13 to 16, April 2019.

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, recently, the President, OGTAN, Dr Mayowa Afe, said that an onslaught of complex and broad-ranging socio-economic challenges including poor governance, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, outdated educational curriculum, poor funding of research centres, social unrest and increasing poverty had affected the human capital development in the country over the years.

The President said, “OGTAN is also using this conference to address the rapid advancement of digitalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence, and how it compounds the increasing concern about the future of job security, wealth redistribution, and a comparatively rising cost of implementing local content where these advancements are lacking.”

According to him, discussants include, the Commercial Service Counsellor, US Consulate, Mr Brent Omdahl; the Managing Director, Oilserv, Mr Emeka Okwuosa; the Managing Director, Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, Mr Pade Durotoye; the Managing Director, AOS Orwell, Mr Femi Omotayo; Principal, Petroleum Training Institute, Prof Sunny Iyuke, and Group Managing Director, Schlumberger Nigeria, Mr Ifeanyi Nwagbogu, among others.

“Some past and present high-ranking government officials, producing oil majors, multinational service companies’ executives, diplomats, and civil society groups are among distinguished guests expected at the conference,” Afe said.

Speaking Afe said that distinguished individuals and companies to be honoured with different categories of awards include: the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; GMD NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru; and the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr Simbi Wabote will receive “The Nigerian Oil & Gas Key Drivers Award” in recognition of their various roles and quality of leadership over the last 3years which has brought stability and innovation in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.  Also, that “The Local Content Achievement Award” will go to Engr Ernest Nwapa, former Executive Secretary of NCDMB, while TOTAL Exploration and Production will be honoured with “the Nigerian Content Project of the Year Award 2018”.


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