By CLARA NWACHUKWU

Houston (Texas)—To enhance and grow indigenous capacity, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN, said it had entered into agreements with the Nigerian Content Development Board, NCDMB, and the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to train fresh graduate engineers.

Giving more details about the programme, which is still in its pilot stage, the Assistant Publicity Secretary, PETAN, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said at a briefing in Texas, it was to bridge the capacity gap in the industry.

He explained that part of the objectives of the internship, which will last for one year, is to produce home grown engineers that will be groomed to become specialists in their respective fields to strengthen capacity in the industry.

Lawal said: “There will be a rippling effect in the economy. We will also be adding value in the industry and creating our home grown engineers.”

He explained that under the pilot scheme, 100 of the graduates will be sent to the NCDMD, while 40 will be sent to Shell, to acquire hands-on experience from their various fields.

He added that after graduation, the engineers will be absorbed by the organisations, but strictly on a need basis for which Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, have already been signed by the respective parties.

He said PETAN was talking with other organisations to key into the programme with a view to signing similar MoUs with them.