Nigeria’s gas future hinges on workforce development
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has stressed the urgent need for deliberate human capital development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Delivering a keynote address at the ongoing Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) Human Capacity Development Conference and Expo 2026, Ekpo, who was represented by the Chief Geologist and Technical Assistant to the Director of the Gas Department, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, warned that Nigeria’s gas infrastructure ambitions could not be realised without parallel investment in the workforce.
Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, has stressed the urgent need for deliberate human capital development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Delivering a keynote address at the ongoing Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) Human Capacity Development Conference and Expo 2026, Ekpo, who was represented by the Chief Geologist and Technical Assistant to the Director of the Gas Department, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, warned that Nigeria’s gas infrastructure ambitions could not be realised without parallel investment in the workforce.
The three-day event, which began on Wednesday at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, is themed “Empowering People. Driving Performance. Shaping the Future of Oil & Gas.”
Ekpo emphasised that human capacity development must remain central to Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative (2021–2030), which he described as more than a policy but a national development strategy recognising natural gas as a critical enabler of industrial and economic transformation.
He noted that while Nigeria’s vast oil and gas reserves provide opportunity, it is people who transform resources into prosperity. “Infrastructure creates opportunity, but human capacity converts opportunity into sustainable value,” he said.
The Minister highlighted the government’s ambition to deepen domestic gas utilisation, improve power generation, expand cleaner cooking and transport fuels, and strengthen Nigeria’s position in regional and global energy markets.
However, he cautioned that infrastructure investment alone would not deliver these goals without a skilled workforce capable of designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining assets such as pipelines, LNG and CNG facilities, LPG distribution networks, and petrochemical plants.
Ekpo also underscored the pace of technological change in the global energy sector, driven by artificial intelligence, automation, digital twins, data analytics, and cybersecurity.
He urged Nigeria to equip its workforce not only in traditional technical disciplines but also in emerging fields such as AI, digital technologies, carbon management, project finance, and energy economics, alongside soft skills like critical thinking and adaptability.
He called for a shift in how training is measured, insisting that the true value lies not in certificates issued but in measurable improvements in competence, productivity, safety, efficiency, innovation, and organisational performance.
Acknowledging the progress made under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, Ekpo praised the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for advancing indigenous participation, skills development, and technology transfer. He noted that Nigerian professionals and companies are increasingly taking on complex roles across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments.
The minister urged deeper collaboration among government, industry, academia, and training bodies such as OGTAN, describing the association as a strategic partner in preparing Nigerian professionals to compete globally.
He pressed universities to produce industry-ready graduates, encouraged industry to expand internships and mentorships, and called for greater inclusion of young Nigerians and women in technical, commercial, and leadership roles.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to building a globally competitive petroleum workforce, Ekpo said Nigeria must not only export energy resources but also energy expertise, technology, innovation, and professional services.
