By Nnenna Ezeah
LAGOS Deep Offshore Logistics, LADOL, and Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea, have entered into partnership to boost human capacity and Nigerian content development in the oil and gas industry through the establishment of Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy, SaNTA.

The Managing Director, LADOL, Dr. Amy Jadesimi, told journalists in Lagos that the partnership represents real local content development, as both Samsung and LADOL will be investing millions of dollars in equipment and man-hours in building the facility and setting up the management team and training programmes to produce world-class graduates.

Planning and pre-investment

Jadesimi said that the development of the training centre came after one and half years of planning and pre-investment by Samsung.

“The training facility’s target is to reduce the knowledge and experience gap, such that Nigerians will acquire world-class standards in welding and testing. This facility demonstrates Samsung’s full and long term commitment to assisting the development of mega-fabrication capabilities in Nigeria.”

She also noted that Samsung’s world-class expertise would be matched with LADOL’s extensive experience in Greenfield Nigerian developments to establish a long-lasting partnership.

“The Korean company is unique among its peers due to its true commitment to local content and its belief in the importance of Nigerian partnership, technology and investment.”

She added that the training which will initially train between 250 and 300 graduates yearly, would be fully operational by the first quarter of 2013. “SaNTA will be advertising for applicants from all over the country; successful applicants will be admitted to a three to six months training programme, which will include theoretical and practical training.

“Upon graduation, the successful candidates will receive globally recognized accreditation and it will empower them to get work in Nigeria’s growing fabrication industry. SaNTA is being established in recognition of the fact that Nigerians will only benefit from the wide spread job creation, which will result from onshore Floating Production Storage Offshore, FPSO integration, as well as other important local content milestones, with extensive and diverse training, provided by world-class partners,” she explained.