Nigeria’s oil and gas industry may soon see stricter standards for those responsible for training its workforce as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board prepares to introduce a new certification programme for industry trainers.

The initiative, known as the Nigerian Content Trainers Registration Certificate, is aimed at ensuring that professionals tasked with developing the industry’s workforce possess the required expertise and qualifications to do so.

The programme was unveiled during a sensitisation workshop organised by the NCDMB for members of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria in Lagos.

For the Board, the move is about more than issuing certificates. It reflects a growing recognition that the success of Nigeria’s local content drive depends not only on the number of people employed in the sector but also on the quality of skills being transferred to the next generation of industry professionals.

Over the years, Nigeria has invested heavily in increasing indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain. While those efforts have helped expand local involvement in projects and service delivery, industry stakeholders continue to emphasise the need for stronger technical capacity to keep pace with rapidly changing technologies and operational requirements.

Speaking at the workshop, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the General Manager of the Infrastructure and Capacity Building Directorate, Barr. Sheba Olugbenga said the certification framework was designed to establish clear standards for trainers operating within the sector.

According to him, the competence of trainers plays a critical role in determining the quality of professionals produced for the industry.

As new technologies, digital systems and evolving operational practices continue to reshape the oil and gas sector, the demand for highly skilled workers is increasing. Industry leaders believe this makes standardised and sustainable capacity development more important than ever.

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“The constantly changing services and requirements in the oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors, driven by technological advancements and smart innovations, have created the need for strategic and sustainable in-country capacity development and standardisation,” he said.

The certification programme is expected to cover 11 areas of specialisation spanning both technical and soft-skill competencies relevant to the industry.

Beyond establishing standards, the initiative is also intended to create greater confidence in the quality of training delivered across the sector. Companies investing in workforce development increasingly want assurance that trainers possess recognised expertise and can deliver programmes aligned with current industry needs.

During an interactive session with participants, NCDMB’s Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele warned prospective applicants against individuals or organisations claiming they could facilitate or accelerate the certification process.

He stressed that registration for the programme is free and urged applicants to use only approved channels.

Bamidele also disclosed that the Board is working to integrate selected training tools and course templates into the curriculum of the Nigerian Content Academy, the NCDMB’s capacity development and knowledge-sharing institution.

The move is expected to support operating and service companies seeking specialised training programmes for their workforce while promoting greater consistency in training delivery across the industry.

He commended the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria for its collaboration with the Board, particularly in supporting graduate employability initiatives and contributing to training needs assessments that helped shape the certification framework.

The introduction of the certification scheme comes as Nigeria continues to focus on building a workforce capable of supporting increasingly complex oil and gas operations. With operators adopting new technologies and seeking specialised skills, industry regulators are placing greater emphasis on the quality of training and workforce development.

For the NCDMB, the certification programme represents another step in strengthening local capacity and ensuring that Nigeria’s local content ambitions are supported by a workforce equipped to meet the sector’s changing demands.

If successfully implemented, the initiative could help create a more structured training ecosystem, improve professional standards and enhance the long-term competitiveness of Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce.

Meiza Nigeria