Petroleum Ministry, NNPC Partner on Capacity Devt. for Technical Officers

As part of efforts to boost indigenous capacity in the Oil and Gas Sector,
the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation, NNPC, Monday commenced a seven week intensive training for
thirty four (34) technical officers in the Ministry.
Delivering his keynote address during the opening ceremony of the second
batch of Foundation Skills Training Programme (FSTP) organized by the NNPC
for the Technical Officers in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the
Ministry, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, noted that the programme would equip the
trainees technically for the task ahead.
Represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Isang Iwara, the
Permanent Secretary said the capacity development programme was in line
with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s
administration to take the Oil and Gas Industry to the next level.
He commended the NNPC for facilitating the training programme, stressing
that the partnership is geared towards improving the competence and policy
direction of the present administration.
In his opening address, the Group Executive Director, Corporate Services,
Dr. Dan Efebo, observed that the programme was aimed at developing young
professionals for the entire Oil and Gas value chain considering the
critical role it plays across the entire spectrum of the Nigerian economy.
“To date, a total of thirty (30) officers were trained in the first batch.
At the end of this programme, sixty (64) officers from various disciplines
of Geosciences, Petroleum Engineering, Well Engineering and Field
Engineering would have been trained,” the GED said.
Represented by the Group General Manager, Group Human Resources, Mr.
Ishaya Timothy, the GED implored the trainees to remain focused and work
hard in order to justify the enormous resources committed to organizing
the programme.
In his welcome address, the GGM, GHR of NNPC, represented by Mrs. Mariam
Sani, assured the trainees that the training provider was capable of
delivering the training as majority of their resource persons were
experienced players in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.
He commended the Group Learning Department for working tirelessly to
ensure the successful takeoff and smooth running of the programme and
urged them to remain focused on ensuring the successful completion of the
programme.
Other speakers at the event included former Group Managing Director of the
NNPC, Engr. Funsho Kukpolukun, and former Group Executive Director,
Refining and Petrochemicals of the Corporation, Engr. Chris Ogiewonyi, who
called on the Ministry and the NNPC to sustain the culture of training and
retraining their work force in order to ensure excellence in the Petroleum
Sector.