AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Over 300 Youths benefit as NLNG begins Nigerian Content HCD Trainings NLNG, on Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, kicked off its Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC-HCD) Basic Training Programme for the NLNG Train 7 Project, a major NC programme aimed at reskilling young graduates and developing human capital.

A total of 331 young graduates from diverse academic disciplines, who emerged successful out of 848 previously shortlisted from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content (NOGIC) Joint Qualification System (JQS) portal of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), are undergoing the 12-month programme.

Areas of training include ICT, Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, Non-destructive Testing (NDT), Lifting and Working at Heights, Quality Management Systems, Marine and Offshore Services, and Facility Management and Maintenance.

In a welcome address at the event, the NLNG Train 7 Corporate Liaison Manager, Engr. Joshua Anemeje, who represented the Train 7 project, said the execution of the project has progressed remarkably well and attributed the successful commencement of the NC-HCD Training Programme to the support of the NCDMB.“We are excited to see the number of young men and women this programme will impact.

NLNG takes pride in empowering our people, providing an environment that builds skills and capabilities. As you know, the Train 7 Project is nearly 75% complete, employing over 10,000 skilled individuals on-site.

This training offers participants a chance to make the most of their learning and apply it in future endeavours,” he said.Engr Anemeje disclosed that there are over 10,000 workers actively engaged in the construction of the Train 7 Project at the NLNG Plant Site at Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State.

He charged the trainees to stay focused and work towards utilising the skills they acquire for future endeavours.

In the keynote address, the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr Felix Ogbe, FNSE, represented by the Director of Capacity Building and Corporate Services, Dr Ama Ikuru, expressed joy that the training programme had finally taken off in fulfilment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act requirement on human capital development.He said the programme, designed to build a pool of skilled and globally competitive workers to support the development and growth of the Nigerian oil and gas industry and its related sectors, represents a crucial investment in our country’s future and remains a commitment to the empowerment of the next generation of skilled professionals.

Addressing the trainees, Dr. Ikuru stated that the opportunity created by the NC-HCD programme will enable them to build a strong foundation in both knowledge and practical skills.

He remarked that there was a clear pathway to employment for high-performing trainees.

He further remarked that young graduates seeking to benefit from similar training for oil and gas industry-related jobs can register on the NCDMB’s NOGIC JQS Portal, which is the statutorily established database for companies operating and providing services in the sector.

The training is provided by the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN).The Train 7 Project is expected to increase the production capacity of the NLNG Terminal by 35 per cent, from the current 22 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 30 mtpa.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Seplat Energy Concludes Third Phase of Media Training, Empowers Additional 50 Journalists in Abuja Abuja, 5th November 2024: Seplat Energy Plc, foremost Nigerian indigenous energy company, has trained additional 50 journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja as it concludes the third edition of its media training in line with the Company’s sustainability commitments.

The media training programme was organized in partnership with Channels Academy, and had in attendance journalists/media practitioners in the energy, finance, capital market, judiciary, and general business beats.

The two-day media training, which was themed, ‘Retooling the Media for Better Reporting’ dwelt on areas like: Local and International Energy Market Overview; the Intersection of the Judiciary and Energy Sector and the Fundamentals of Energy Journalism.

Insights were also shared on Reporting Nigeria’s Local Energy Giants, Legal Compliance and Best Practice, Data Analysis and Interpretation as well as Leveraging Technology in Journalism.

The event, which culminated in the presentation of Certificates also featured group discussions on ethical scenarios and presentations.

The training programme was facilitated by industry experts including Martin Ayankola, veteran Energy editor; Dr. PaulOgbole, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Simon Ejembi, Editor/Senior Manager, Channels Digital; Taiwo Adesina, Video production Specialist/Drone Pilot, and Emonye Adekwu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).Speaking during the engagement, Stanley Opara, Manager Corporate Communications at Seplat Energy Plc, who represented Chioma Afe, Director External Affairs & Social Performance, Seplat Energy, reiterated Seplat Energy’s commitment to the continuous empowerment of journalists and the media as a whole, as partners in progress.He identified the media as critical stakeholders of Seplat Energy, saying the development of the media industry in terms of skills and capacity advancement, remains dear to the Company and its leadership.

In his address, Mr. Kingsley Uranta, General Manager at Channels Academy, emphasized the role of the media in national development, stressing that the need to build more capacity in the media space cannot be overemphasized.

Responding, the journalists and media practitioners in attendance under the aegis of Energy Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) and the National Association of Judicial Correspondents, Abuja (NAJUC), lauded Seplat Energy for its support and commitment to the Nigerian media, whilst calling on other corporate organizations to emulate the gesture, as all hands must be on deck to better the fortunes of the country’s media industry.Recall that Seplat Energy had earlier conducted such media trainings, twice, for Energy and Judiciary, as well as Capital Market and Business Correspondents/Editors in Lagos.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has asked the President and General Secretary of the parent body to concentrate their energies on redeeming their battered image and putting an end to the lingering crisis in the union instead of making capital out of the misfortunes of oil and gas workers who were involved in the helicopter crash last week.

A 79 years old elder, Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack in the Port Harcourt Zone of PTD gave the charge in a statement issued Sunday evening in Abuja.

It was widely published that the unfortunate incident occurred at 11:22 a.m along the waterways in Port Harcourt on Thursday, October 24, 2024 when the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig. A total of eight persons were on board, but were all feared dead. 

Dagogo-Jack statement reads; “I was in far away Spain to see my dentist when my personal assistant sent me a press release from NUPENG wherein the leadership of the Union commiserate with the families of oil and gas workers who lost their lives in an helicopter crash on Thursday in Port Harcourt. 

There is nothing wrong in that and as an individual who believes in the sanctity of life, I solemnly say may the souls of the departed continue to rest in perfect peace.

“However what is expected of NUPENG’S General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi and the President, Williams Akporeha is to jointly concentrate on how to unite the union, especially PTD which is the only viable and surviving Branch; they should fix the cracks within it and drop all cases in court and allow a fresh breathe by bestoring leadership legitimacy on Comrade Lucky Osesua, Comrade Dayyabu Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (Onwa), Comrade Dr Humble Obinna Power and others.

This will ultimately restore sanity in the Union and bring about progress and prosperity and that is the popular opinion of all the members and the elders in the Union. If NUPENG’s leadership can swallow their pride and do this, their lost integrity, honour and dignity would be fully restored.

“Issuing press releases and statements and attempting to make capital out of every event and situation in the country which has no bearing with the union’s philosophy or interest would do them no good, it is purely a misplaced priority.

For example the victims of the helicopter crash were all PENGASSAN members; and that well organized union, has responded appropriately. NUPENG has done nothing to uphold and defend the rights of its members who have been subjected to humiliation, casualization and servitude in the oil and gas industry, but NUPENG is always quick to make public appearances on TV and making paid adverts on newspapers, on inconsequential matters and abandoning serious issues that have direct bearing on the lives and livelihoods of their members who are paying check-off-dues.

“Within NUPENG, many staff members have been sacked through trump up charges, some were set up, many branches are completely destroyed, no cohesion, no policy direction, no standard no principles, all the legacies of the union’s founding fathers are totally ruined by one man. It is also on record that the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale is always changing the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the staff, as well as the bye laws and the constitution of the union to suit his selfish and unholy narratives. What happened to integrity? What happened to moral rectitude? Running a Union as big as NUPENG as private estate is very ridiculous to say the least.

“It is, however, on record that Afolabi has no regard for the basic norms of human conduct. He lacks any self-awareness or self-scrutiny. He seems beyond embarrassment.

The only moral and social compass he follows is his own false and fraudulent ideas about what is appropriate and inappropriate, shameful or deceitful.
 “I have said it before and will repeat it again that Afolabi has shown himself to be the brightest bulb in the box, criticising others but lacking the capacity to stomach criticism so as to put him on the right track, that is not leadership.

So those who are associating themselves with him should have a re-think such that they would not soil their integrity and credibility in the eyes of the public, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and other industry stakeholders who are watching with keen attention and interest. May God restore stability and progress in PTD.”