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Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has trained 210 youths to equip them with skills required in the oil and gas industry.
The youths were trained at a facility run by the local government which has a capacity to provide various skills needed in the oil industry.
Speaking at the graduating ceremony, the participants commended Ekanem Brown, the local government chairman for his vision and commitment to human capacity development in Akwa Ibom State.
Represented by Ufot Ebong, a special assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on technical matters, he expressed confidence that the local administration in the area will meet the yearnings of the youths in providing them with skills for employment.
The governor who decried the absence of a petroleum training institute in Akwa Ibom despite being the highest oil producing state in Nigeria, commended the council boss for making a move that could lead to the establishment of the first petroleum training institute in the state.
“Before coming here, I spoke with the chairmen and senior directors of multinational oil companies, and they have promised to visit this facility very soon and give their support,” he said.
He also applauded the graduands for seeking to learn lifetime skills, expressing confidence that in no distant time, they will form the major manpower for the industry across the country.
Earlier, the council chairman, Ekanem Brown applauded his predecessor, Ephraim Akpan for conceiving the idea of the academy. He added that knowing the value of the facility to Nigerian youths, he decided to continue with the project.
He said the training of 210 youths in skills relevant to the oil and gas industry is aimed at creating a pool of young minds trained in technical skills to provide manpower for the oil and gas companies operating in the coastal areas in the state.
“The aim of this programme is to make the Oil and Gas academy Nya-odiong a centre of excellence in technical and vocational skills training across Nigeria; and to create a pool of specialized skills relevant in the industry operating here in our coastal areas,” he said.
