The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has launched a human capacity development programme to equip 48 Nigerians with specialised subsea engineering skills for the oil and gas industry.

The programme is driven in partnership with Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited

The programme, which commenced in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is designed to address critical technical skills gaps, strengthen indigenous engineering capacity and increase Nigerian participation in high-value offshore and deepwater operations.

The 12-month training combines six months of classroom instruction with another six months of structured on-the-job training, providing participants with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience required to work in the specialised subsea engineering field.

The curriculum covers risers and hydrodynamics engineering, offshore structures design and engineering, pipeline engineering, and computer-aided design and drafting (AutoCAD).

The initiative forms part of NCDMB’s Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes, which are designed to develop specialised Nigerian expertise to meet the technical requirements of the country’s evolving oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Ms. Emelle Alexis, described the programme as an important opportunity for the participants to acquire competencies required for complex subsea operations.

“Today marks the beginning of a transformational journey for 48 young Nigerians in a highly specialised field that demands precision, discipline and accountability. Through intensive classroom instruction and structured on-the-job training, the participants will gain hands-on experience in subsea engineering,” Ogbe said.

He emphasised that subsea engineering requires a high level of technical competence, professional discipline and strict adherence to safety standards because of the complex operating conditions associated with offshore petroleum infrastructure.

“The competencies you acquire through this programme are critical to the safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible operation of modern oil and gas facilities. Beyond technical proficiency, the training is designed to develop your problem-solving skills, teamwork, professionalism and commitment to safety,” he stated.

Ogbe urged the trainees to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that their success would depend on their commitment to learning, professional conduct and willingness to meet the demanding standards of the oil and gas industry.

He expressed confidence that the participants would complete the programme with the technical knowledge and professional capabilities needed to contribute meaningfully to the sector.

Oracle Intelligence reports that the collaboration between NCDMB, Heritage Energy and Global Oceon Engineers reflects efforts by regulators and industry operators to strengthen the supply of specialised technical skills needed to execute and maintain complex petroleum projects.

In offshore and deepwater operations, subsea engineering encompasses the design and technical management of infrastructure installed beneath the sea, including pipelines, risers and associated structures that support the movement of hydrocarbons between seabed facilities and surface installations.

These systems operate in challenging environments where engineering precision, structural integrity and reliable performance are essential to operational safety and environmental protection.

Developing indigenous expertise in these areas, industry experts say, is important to expanding the capacity of Nigerian professionals to participate in technically demanding projects that have traditionally required specialised international expertise.

The programme is intended to bridge the gap between theoretical engineering knowledge and the practical competencies required in industry by combining classroom instruction with structured workplace experience.

Development of such skills could also support technology transfer, improve the availability of qualified local personnel and expand opportunities for indigenous professionals to participate in offshore engineering and related services.

In his remarks at the event, Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Heritage Energy, Felix Osiwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing indigenous technical capabilities.

He said a skilled Nigerian workforce was essential to delivering current and future energy infrastructure projects and sustaining growth in the oil and gas industry.

His remarks highlighted the relationship between human capital development and industry’s capacity to execute increasingly complex projects.

According to NCDMB, the availability of competent local engineers and other specialists becomes an important consideration in project planning, execution, maintenance and operational safety as operators pursue technically demanding activities.

For indigenous professionals and service companies, acquiring specialised subsea engineering skills could widen access to technical roles and create opportunities to participate in projects requiring advanced engineering capabilities.

Such expertise could also strengthen the capacity of Nigerian service providers to compete for contracts and deliver specialised services within the domestic petroleum industry.

Managing Director of Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, George Ebuh, who was represented by Engr. Ifedolapo Aderibigbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment by the three organisations in developing indigenous subsea engineering expertise.

He noted that skilled local professionals were vital to the safe and reliable operation of offshore and deepwater infrastructure.

Oracle Intelligence notes that the involvement of a specialised engineering company in the programme provides an industry dimension to the training initiative, particularly through its focus on technical competencies relevant to subsea engineering and offshore project requirements.

Offshore structures engineering addresses the design and performance of structures operating in marine environments.

According to the NCDMB, the programme’s emphasis on risers, hydrodynamics, offshore structures and pipeline engineering reflects the technical requirements of infrastructure used in offshore oil and gas production.

Risers provide connections between subsea systems and surface facilities, while pipeline engineering supports the design and integrity of systems used to transport hydrocarbons.

AutoCAD training is intended to develop participants’ capacity to work with computer-aided technical drawings and engineering designs, which are important in planning, documenting and executing engineering projects.

These competencies, combined with workplace experience, could help prepare participants for technical assignments involving the design, construction, inspection, maintenance and operation of offshore facilities, depending on their eventual roles and further professional development.

The training also incorporates problem-solving, teamwork, professionalism and safety awareness, recognising that technical knowledge alone is insufficient for working in environments where engineering failures can have serious operational and environmental consequences.

NCDMB stated that the programme supports its wider mandate to increase Nigerian participation in the oil and gas value chain by strengthening the country’s technical workforce and reducing gaps in specialised professional capabilities.

The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to NCDMB, Heritage Energy and Global Oceon Engineers for providing the opportunity to acquire specialised subsea engineering skills.

They identified safety training and AutoCAD among the important areas of learning, highlighting the relevance of the programme to the technical and operational demands of the industry.

The 48 trainees are expected to complete the 12-month programme after undertaking the classroom and practical components.

General Manager and Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, explained that the initiative is part of NCDMB’s Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes that target critical skills shortages and seek to prepare Nigerians for specialised roles across the oil and gas industry.

The Board’s approach, according to him, recognises that expanding local participation requires more than policy provisions and contractual commitments. He also pointed at the need to develop professionals with technical competence to undertake complex assignments and meet international operational and safety standards.

The programme, according to him, could therefore contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous subsea engineering capacity, supporting technology transfer and widening local participation in high-value offshore and deepwater activities.

He added that the programme offers a pathway for the beneficiaries to specialised technical development, represents an investment in the human capital required to support Nigeria’s offshore petroleum industry and strengthen indigenous capabilities across the energy value chain.

The launch was attended by representatives of NCDMB, Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, alongside the trainees, facilitators and other industry stakeholders.