The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned a specialized oil and gas institute in Nigeria, the Standard Institute of Technology (SIT), with the aim of scaling up the local workforce through the development of human capital. Launched after the 2022 Practical Nigerian Content Workshop earlier this month, the institute – located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and equipped with world-class facilities – will be key to enhancing the capacity of the local oil and gas workforce, while reducing the import of skilled labor across the industry – a key step for a country that has long-been reliant on foreign expertise.
Commended by NCDMB board members, representatives of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and executives from a number of oil and gas companies active in the country, the SIT will be instrumental in driving capacity building; supporting Nigerian businesses across the oil and gas value chain; and equipping the local workforce with the right skills to tackle the energy transition.
Speaking in an address during the launch, Nsidibe Alexander, Group Managing Director and CEO of Standard Testing and Inspection Services – the company responsible for the launch of the institute – emphasized that technology transfer and human capacity development represent top priorities for the firm, and that training youth in critical competencies was a key step made possible through the launch of the SIT.
According to NCDMB Executive Secretary, Eng. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, the institute is “proof that Nigerian businesses are taking up the challenge to contribute to the development of in-country capacities and capabilities,” concluding that, “As technology is evolving, it is important to constantly acquire new knowledge and skills through training and retraining as individuals or as an organization.”
