NCDMB, HERITAGE ENERGY TRAIN 48 NIGERIANS IN SUBSEA ENGINEERING
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, has commenced a specialised training programme for 48 Nigerians in subsea engineering to bridge critical skills gaps and strengthen indigenous technical capacity in the oil and gas industry.
The development was announced in a press release issued by the NCDMB and signed by Obinna Ezeobi, PhD, General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, following the programme’s kick-off ceremony held on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The programme is structured to combine six months of classroom instruction with six months of on-the-job training, equipping participants with the technical knowledge and practical experience required for offshore and deepwater operations.
The curriculum covers risers and hydrodynamics engineering, offshore structures design and engineering, pipeline engineering, as well as computer-aided design and drafting using AutoCAD.
Speaking through the General Manager of Human Capacity Development, Ms Emelle Alexis, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the initiative was designed to prepare young Nigerians for the demands of a highly specialised area of the petroleum industry.
“Today marks the beginning of a transformational journey for 48 young Nigerians in a highly specialised field that demands precision, discipline and accountability,” Ogbe said.
He explained that the combination of classroom teaching and practical workplace experience would help participants acquire the expertise needed to support the safe and efficient operation of modern oil and gas facilities.
“The competencies you acquire through this programme are critical to the safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible operation of modern oil and gas facilities,” he stated.
Ogbe added that the training would extend beyond technical proficiency to develop problem-solving abilities, teamwork, professionalism and a strong commitment to safety.
He urged the trainees to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that subsea engineering requires discipline, technical competence and strict adherence to safety standards.
In his remarks, the Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Heritage Energy, Felix Osiwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing indigenous technical expertise, noting that a skilled Nigerian workforce was essential for delivering present and future energy infrastructure projects.
Osiwo said strengthening local capacity would also support sustained growth in the oil and gas industry by increasing the availability of qualified Nigerians for specialised technical assignments.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, George Ebuh, represented by Engr. Ifedolapo Aderibigbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in indigenous subsea engineering capabilities.
He emphasised that developing skilled local professionals was essential to ensuring the safe and reliable operation of offshore and deepwater infrastructure.
The trainees expressed appreciation for the opportunity, highlighting safety training and AutoCAD as important components of their learning experience.
The NCDMB said the initiative forms part of its Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes, which are designed to address critical skills shortages, facilitate technology transfer and expand Nigerian participation in high-value oil and gas activities.
The programme is expected to strengthen the pool of indigenous professionals available for specialised offshore operations while supporting the broader objective of building local technical capacity across Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
