NCDMB, NLNG flag off advanced training for 140 graduates in $5bn Train 7 project

By Seun Ibiyemi 

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited have officially inaugurated 140 graduates into an intensive three-month Advanced Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) Programme, aimed at strengthening local technical capacity for the $5 billion NLNG Train 7 Project on Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The inauguration ceremony, held Wednesday in Port Harcourt, marked the beginning of the on-the-job phase of the programme, which includes hands-on experience in areas such as Turn Around Maintenance (TAM), commissioning, and desktop-based operational programmes. 

These trainees had previously completed a 12-month basic training course covering a range of oil and gas industry disciplines.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe—represented by the Board’s Manager of Human Capital Development, Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena described the launch as a significant milestone in the ongoing mission to develop a highly skilled, globally competitive Nigerian oil and gas workforce.

"This training is a bold statement of our joint commitment to nurturing professionals who will shape the future of our industry,” Ogbe said, adding that over 400 Nigerians have already benefited from earlier phases of the NC-HCD programme in specialized and technical areas aligned with industry demands.

Also speaking at the event, the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development of NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, hailed the partnership with NCDMB as essential to the success of the company’s human capital development strategy. 

She emphasized that the programme comes at a critical time, as the NLNG Train 7 Project now 80 percent complete will soon require a wave of skilled manpower to support operations involving cutting-edge technologies.

The advanced trainees join two earlier cohorts: 331 participants from Batch A who began training in engineering, ICT, HSE, quality control, and welding in November 2024, and 77 participants from Batch B trained in supply chain and data analytics.

Engr. Dagogo Buowari, Nigerian Content Manager at NLNG, advised the new trainees to remain focused during their stay on Bonny Island, where the programme will run from June 16, 2025. 

He expressed confidence that the initiative will deliver long-term benefits for Nigeria’s energy sector.

The training is being delivered in collaboration with members of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), who are tasked with ensuring the programme remains aligned with real-world industry needs.

The Train 7 Project, which reached Final Investment Decision in December 2019, is one of the most significant gas infrastructure projects in sub-Saharan Africa and is expected to boost Nigeria’s LNG production capacity by over 30 per cent.