NCDMB, Heritage Energy launch subsea engineering training for 48 Nigerians
The 12-month programme combines classroom instruction and practical industry experience to develop Nigerian expertise for offshore and deepwater operations.
48 Nigerians will receive specialised subsea engineering training under a new human capacity development programme launched by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL) and Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited.
The programme was launched on Friday, October 16, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and is designed to strengthen indigenous technical expertise in a specialised area of the oil and gas industry where engineering precision, practical competence and safety are essential.
The 12-month programme comprises six months of classroom instruction followed by six months of structured on-the-job training, allowing participants to apply their knowledge in practical engineering settings. The curriculum covers risers and hydrodynamics engineering, offshore structures design and engineering, pipeline engineering, and computer-aided design and drafting (AutoCAD).
Speaking at the launch, NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, FNSE, represented by the General Manager, Human Capacity Development, Ms Emelle Alexis, said the initiative would equip participants with the competencies required to support complex subsea operations and the safe, efficient and reliable operation of modern oil and gas facilities.
He described the programme as an opportunity for the 48 participants to build expertise in a field that demands precision, discipline and accountability, stressing that the training would develop both their technical capabilities and professional standards.
Ogbe noted that subsea engineering requires more than technical proficiency, highlighting problem-solving, teamwork, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to safety as essential qualities for personnel working on offshore infrastructure.
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He urged the trainees to take full advantage of the programme and demonstrate the discipline needed to succeed in the industry, expressing confidence that they would emerge better equipped to contribute to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Manager, Nigerian Content Development at Heritage Energy, Felix Osiwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing indigenous technical talent. He said a skilled Nigerian workforce would be essential to delivering current and future energy infrastructure projects and sustaining industry growth.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Global Oceon Engineers Nigeria Limited, George Ebuh, represented by Engr. Ifedolapo Aderibigbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in indigenous subsea engineering capabilities. He emphasised the importance of developing local professionals who can contribute to the safe and reliable operation of offshore and deepwater infrastructure.
The trainees welcomed the opportunity to acquire specialised industry skills, identifying safety training and AutoCAD among the areas of learning they considered particularly valuable.
The initiative forms part of NCDMB’s Top 10 Field Readiness Human Capacity Development programmes, which seek to address critical skills gaps and prepare Nigerians for specialised roles across the oil and gas industry. By combining classroom learning with structured workplace experience, the programme also supports technology transfer and increased Nigerian participation in high-value engineering activities.
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.
