The group of independent training providers in Nigeria oil and gas industry and the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) were appreciated for its Review of National Executives Performance presented to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
The group, led by its President, Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi in the company of other top officials. The review which was tagged, ‘First Tenure,’ emphasized the initiatives and activities of the group and contained a detailed account of areas covered within the period, such as manpower development in line with the goals of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
‘Authorized Training Services Practitioner (ATSP) Protocol’ was mentioned by OGTAN as part of capacity building for its members in service delivery competencies that would position them to “reasonably compete with international training organizations” and to secure “industry-wide acceptance” of the Association’s certifications.
In order to accomplish this goals, OGTAN, the leading unit of the Education and Training Sectorial Group of the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum (NCCF) had to set “a minimum practice standard” for members, numbering over 400, with “a third-party verification audit” to enable them to grade themselves against known corporate standards.
OGTAN as well promoted “digital literacy and other technology-backed training in service delivery for members via an Agency Agreement with CERTIPORT [a renowned provider of advanced technology solutions]” and a well conducted public lectures on human capacity development. The Association notably established and “operationalized the OGTAN Young Professionals Forum,” an online platform focusing at undergraduates of tertiary institutions in the country.
Inclusively, the Association “fostered and deepened local and regional collaborations with stakeholders as varied as Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda (OGTAU), and The Welding Federation, Africa (TWF), among others.
The Management of NCDMB, OGTAN’s Mother parastatal paid hid to the presentation, which aired its expectation that so much could be actualized in a course of time “We need to get the oil and gas sector right to be able to conquer the world,” declared the Executive Secretary, Engr. Wabote, in his excitement at the accomplishments of the body.
“We’ll continue to support OGTAN,” he assured, while pressurizing the Association to strive for higher performance and also be more active in bringing to notice of their existence, what its functions and capabilities are. Functional website would make the organisation’s existence, functions and capabilities better known and appreciated, he said.
NCDMB boss words, “If you don’t market yourself, nobody will know who you are,” adding that it needs to put to people’s faces its programmes, faculty members, and facilities, among other things. A website should provide answers to posers such as “Who are your Grade B trainers?” and how membership of the Association could be beneficial to an organisation in the oil and gas industry and globally.
He persuaded the Association to consider organising some of its training programmes at well-resourced training outfits like the Centre for Skills Development and Training (CSDT), Omagwa, Rivers State, which is nearing completion. The Centre, which is the product of a collaboration between the NCDMB and PTDF, has world-class facilities for technology-based training.
In his comments, Ama Ikuru, the Director, Capacity Building Division, said the efforts of the Association were applaudable and that there were areas that needed to be further improved.
OGTAN is majoring on the development and strengthening of skills of members through participation in conferences, workshops and technical business forums, and has provided training on a regular basis across the oil and gas industry value chain.
