Port Harcourt – No fewer than 50 young Nigerians have graduated from Crane Operator Training Programme, sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to strengthen indigenous capacity and support sustainable development.
The four-week training, implemented by Zigma Limited in Rivers, also aims to enhance local participation in the oil and gas industry.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Friday in Port Harcourt, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Felix Ogbe, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to human capital development and innovation.
Represented by an official of NCDMB, Mr Halvin Okonmah, Ogbe said the board remained committed to developing skilled workers and supporting innovation in the oil and gas sector.
“The 50 young Nigerians were trained as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening local capacity to support sustainable growth in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
Ogbe urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity, creativity, teamwork and passion throughout their careers.
He encouraged stakeholders to continue fostering partnerships that would deepen indigenous capacity development for national growth.
The Managing Director of Zigma Limited, Mrs Funmi Ogbue, described the graduation as a celebration of transformation, discipline and opportunity.
Represented by the Chief Operating Officer of Zigma, Mrs Ojinika Mba-Kalu, Ogbue said the programme demonstrated what could be achieved when government, industry and individuals collaborated to developed skilled Nigerian professionals.
“Skilled people build nations. Your certificates represent responsibility, professionalism and a commitment to safety in every workplace,” she said.
Ogbue urged them to embrace continuous learning, integrity and excellence, noting that the oil and gas industry required competent and dependable professionals.
She commended the NCDMB for its sustained investment in human capital development and indigenous capacity building through practical, industry-focused training.
In his remark, the Project Chief Compliance Manager of Zigma, Mrs Amy Nwadiaro, said the programme attracted 355 applications from across the country.
According to her, 65 applicants were shortlisted for screening, while 50 participants were eventually selected for the training.
“The 50 participants have successfully completed the programme, reflecting their dedication and the quality of the training,” she said.
Nwadiaro explained that the curriculum covered crane operating principles, lifting operations, equipment inspection, loading handling, signalling, hazard identification, risk assessment, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) best practices.
“Participants also received training in professionalism, discipline, teamwork and compliance with industry standards through classroom and practical sessions,” she added.
The compliance manager said the combination of classroom instructions and practical training prepared participants for the demands of the workplace.
She thanked NCDMB for sponsoring the programme and the management of Zigma for supporting its successful implementation.
Nwadiaro expressed confidence that the skills and certifications acquired by the graduates would enhance their employability and contribute to safer and more efficient operations in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
One of the beneficiaries, Evidence Ojie, thanked the NCDMB and Zigma for giving them the opportunity to acquire the skill. (NAN)
