By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

YENAGOA – The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Tenacles Resource Limited, has concluded a two-week Oil and Gas Logistics and SMEs Readiness Development Programme, equipping 120 youths and indigenous business owners in Bayelsa State with critical skills to enhance their participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The programme, which combined a five-day online orientation with a five-day physical training held at Ayalla Hotel, Yenagoa, drew participants from oil-producing communities across the state, including nominees from the Bayelsa State Ministry of Youth Development and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity.

The initiative focused on building local capacity in key areas such as oil and gas logistics, inventory management, regulatory compliance, business registration on the Nigerian Petroleum Exchange ,NIPEX, and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS), as well as emerging opportunities within the sector.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of Tenacles Resource Limited, Mr. Tonye Briggs, pointed out that the partnership between NCDMB and Tenacles Limited is aimed at strengthening capacity building and human capital development within the oil and gas sector, adding that the training forms part of ongoing efforts to equip indigenes in oil producing states with the requisite skills to compete effectively in the industry.

He commended the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Ogbe, for sustaining initiatives that promote indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector, expressing optimism that similar programmes would be extended to benefit more Nigerians.

According to him, the training commenced with a five-day online orientation that introduced participants to the objectives of the programme and covered modules on engagement with operators in the industry, regulatory compliance, logistics and inventory management, and an overview of Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

He said: “We have been implementing a partner chosen by NCDMB to implement a two weeks program on Oil and Gas Logistics and SMEs Readiness Development Program. The programme is meant to empower indigenes, youths , indigenous businesses from oil producing communities and other communities in Bayelsa State.

“The Programme involves three phases , first we have the online unbundling which had to do the screening, letting the people know on an online what to expect and there was a five days programme . And some of the modules we treated based on NCDMB expectations was how do they engage with operators in the oil and gas sector.

“Making the participants understand the compliance standards in the oil and gas sector and also harvesting opportunities within the logistics and inventory space which NCDMB has done a lot to ensure that a lot of businesses within the logistics and maritime space goes to indigenous businesses.

“Also the programme will have the participants registered on the NCDMB portal so that they can use that to explore other opportunities and also we have a four months coaching platform which we have set up, so that within those four months they will be given opportunities, to explore, vacancies, beats out there and things like that over a four months period.”

Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa State Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr. Edmund Dagogo, urged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the training.

He said the programme had equipped them with the knowledge required to identify and exploit opportunities in the oil and gas industry while commending the collaboration between the NCDMB, Tenacles Resource Limited and the Bayelsa State Government in advancing human capital development.

The participants expressed delight at the outcome of the programme, commending the NCDMB Board led by Engr Felix Ogbe, for providing the opportunity to enhance their professional capacity and skills. They also praised the organisers for the quality of facilitation and the depth of knowledge shared during the sessions.

One of the participants, Ms Douye Jumbo, said the training opened her eyes to opportunities available to small and medium-scale enterprises, noting that the training has also inspired her to reposition her technology business to take advantage of consulting opportunities in the sector.

Another participant, Mr. Excellent David Siri, a pipeline welder specialising in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), described the initiative as an eye-opener, stressing that it demonstrated that artisans, entrepreneurs and service providers could participate in the oil and gas value chain provided they met industry requirements.

At the close of the programme, participants received laptops, certificates and access to a four-month mentorship platform designed to support their registration on the NOGIC JQS portal, improve compliance with industry standards and expose them to business opportunities and job openings within the oil and gas value chain.