The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, has launched a training programme aimed at equipping 48 Nigerians with specialised skills in subsea engineering.
The programme was inaugurated on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of efforts to address skills gaps and strengthen local technical capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The 12-month programme comprises six months of classroom instruction and six months of structured on-the-job training. Participants will receive training in risers and hydrodynamics engineering, offshore structures design, pipeline engineering, and computer-aided design and drafting (AutoCAD).
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In his keynote address, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the General Manager of Human Capacity Development, Ms. Emelle Alexis, said the initiative would help prepare participants for the technical demands of subsea operations.
He explained that the training would combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience to help participants develop the skills needed to support the safe and reliable operation of modern oil and gas facilities.
Ogbe also emphasised the importance of professionalism, technical competence and safety in subsea engineering, noting that the programme would help trainees develop problem-solving abilities, teamwork and a strong sense of responsibility.
He urged the participants to take the opportunity seriously and demonstrate the discipline and commitment required to succeed in the industry.
Speaking at the event, Heritage Energy’s Manager of Nigerian Content Development, Felix Osiwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing indigenous technical expertise.
He said a skilled Nigerian workforce would be essential to delivering ongoing and future energy infrastructure projects, as well as supporting the long-term growth of the industry.
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 building local subsea engineering capacity.
He noted that qualified Nigerian professionals were important to the safe and reliable operation of offshore and deepwater infrastructure.
Programme Targets Critical Industry Skills Gaps
The trainees welcomed the opportunity to acquire specialised skills, highlighting safety training and AutoCAD as important areas of learning.
The initiative forms part of NCDMB’s Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes, which are designed to address critical skills shortages in the oil and gas sector.
Through the initiative, the Board aims to develop specialised Nigerian expertise for offshore and deepwater operations, promote technology transfer and expand local participation in high-value industry activities.
Representatives of NCDMB, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited attended the inauguration alongside the trainees, facilitators and other industry stakeholders.
Editorial note: This version maintains a neutral news tone, attributes statements to the relevant speakers and avoids presenting the programme’s expected benefits as outcomes that have already been achieved.
