By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has intensified efforts to strengthen indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, screening 96 candidates in Abuja for admission into its specialised Field Readiness Training Programme.
The screening exercise, conducted through a Computer-Based Test (CBT) at the Tudun Wada CBT Hub, Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, was organised in collaboration with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited as part of initiatives aimed at developing skilled Nigerian professionals for the petroleum sector.
The 96 candidates competed for placement in the training programme, which is designed to equip participants with practical competencies required for field operations across the oil and gas value chain.
The exercise forms part of NCDMB’s broader human capital development strategy under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development framework, which seeks to increase local participation in the industry and reduce reliance on expatriate expertise.
According to the Board, candidates were selected through the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS), its digital platform for profiling and identifying beneficiaries for training and development opportunities within the petroleum industry.
The use of the NOGIC JQS platform, NCDMB said, reinforces its commitment to transparency, merit-based selection and equal access to career development opportunities for qualified Nigerians.
Industry observers note that the initiative comes at a time when operators in the upstream and midstream segments are placing increasing demand on technically skilled personnel capable of meeting modern standards in safety, field operations and project execution.
By investing in structured training programmes, NCDMB aims to bridge critical skills gaps while ensuring that more Nigerians directly benefit from opportunities created by investments in the oil and gas sector.
The examination process was supervised by the Manager of NCDMB’s Human Capacity Development Division, Tari Bribena, alongside Samuel Joseph, who monitored the exercise to ensure transparency and operational efficiency.
The Board also encouraged Nigerians interested in specialised training and career opportunities in the petroleum industry to register on the NOGIC JQS portal, noting that all beneficiaries of its Human Capacity Development programmes are selected exclusively through the platform.
The latest screening exercise underscores NCDMB’s commitment to increasing the number of Nigerians occupying technical and strategic positions in the energy industry, a move expected to enhance long-term sector sustainability and boost local value retention.
