The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has partnered with Chevron Nigeria Limited and Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited to launch a Human Capacity Development programme aimed at training a new generation of Nigerian helicopter pilots for the oil and gas industry.

The initiative, unveiled in Lagos on Wednesday, is designed to address the shortage of indigenous pilots supporting offshore oil and gas operations and strengthen local participation in one of the sector’s most specialised technical fields.

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Under the programme, 10 Nigerian trainees will undergo 18 months of intensive aviation training that combines classroom instruction, ground training and practical flight operations, ultimately leading to the attainment of Private Pilot Licences and Commercial Pilot Licences. The participants will also proceed to advanced training, including night rating, instrument rating and aircraft type-rating certification at Henley Air in South Africa.

According to NCDMB, the initiative forms part of its broader Field Readiness Training programme, which targets the development of more than 10,000 young Nigerians across high-demand technical skills in the oil and gas sector. Helicopter piloting has been identified as a priority area due to its critical role in offshore logistics and field operations.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, represented by the Director of Capacity Building Directorate, Abayomi Bamidele, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigerian talent aimed at deepening indigenous capacity and expanding access to specialised careers in aviation and energy.

He said the training represents not just a learning opportunity but a pathway into highly technical roles within the global oil and gas industry, adding that the beneficiaries would be expected to demonstrate professionalism, discipline and excellence throughout their careers.

Also speaking, NCDMB’s General Manager for Human Capacity Development, Alexis Emelle, urged the trainees to remain committed throughout the training period, noting that significant resources had been committed to their development.

Representing Chevron, General Manager for Nigerian Content Development, Ikhuoria Aimienwanu, described the initiative as a milestone for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and the first of its kind in addressing the gap in indigenous aviation expertise.

He said Chevron’s involvement reflects its commitment not only to infrastructure development but also to human capital investment, with the goal of preparing Nigerians for global aviation opportunities.

The Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Oladapo Oyeleke, said the programme builds on the company’s long-standing history in aviation training, noting that Bristow has trained aviation professionals for more than 60 years and produced over 500 pilots across different jurisdictions.

He cautioned the trainees about the demands of helicopter operations in the energy sector, describing the field as highly complex and requiring discipline, precision and sustained focus.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Itorobong Inyang, said her selection was a significant personal milestone and a challenge to stereotypes about women in aviation. She encouraged more women to pursue careers in specialised sectors of the oil and gas industry, noting that her selection was based on a merit-driven process.

The trainees will receive ab-initio pilot training in South Africa before progressing through successive stages of certification, in what stakeholders describe as a landmark intervention aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous capacity in aviation support services for the energy sector.