The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), in collaboration with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has concluded arrangements to host its second annual international conference and exhibition.

The Association during the conference with the theme, “Human Capital Development: as a Driver for National Transformation”, billed to take place in April in Lagos, will also feature award where former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, would be honoured alongside Dr. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Addressing the media in Lagos on Monday, on the upcoming program, OGTAN’s Afe Mayowa highlighted the link between the quality of a nation’s workforce and its economic growth, noting that an onslaught of complex and broad ranging socio-economic challenges including poor governance, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, outdated educational curriculum, poor funding of research centres, social unrest and increasing poverty, just to mention a few, have affected the Nigerian human capital over the years.

Mayowa said in identifying this gap, the Association would assemble resource persons to deliberate on the solutions as it relates to generating sustainable employment with a direct impact on the country’s GDP.

“While it admits the urgent need to address the widening debt profile of states and unemployment among Nigeria’s young population, OGTAN is also using this conference to address the rapid advancement of digitalisation, automation, artificial intelligence, and how it compounds the increasing concern about the future of job security, wealth redistribution, and comparatively rising cost of implementing local content where these advancements are lacking,” he said.

According to him, General Yakubu Gowon (GCFR), who will serve as the chairman of the occasion shall lead the discussants, comprising the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr Simbi Wabote; and Dr Christopher Kolade.

Others include Mr Brent Omdahl, Commercial Counsellor US Consulate; Mr Emeka Okwuosa, MD Oilserv; Mr Pade Durotoye, MD Nigerdock; Mr Femi Omotayo, MD AOSOrwell; Prof Sunny Iyuke, Principal PTI; Mr Ifeanyi Nwagbogu, MD Schlumberger; Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, ABU and University of Ibadan; as well as representatives of the Ministry of Energy Gambia; Ghana’s Petroleum Commission and GOGSPA, among others.

Some past and present high ranking government officials, producing oil majors, multinational service companies’ executives, diplomats, and civil society groups are among distinguished guests expected at the conference.

In line with improving the skill set to take on highly technical job roles and even ensure regional integration of Nigeria’s work force across West Africa, and other climes, OGTAN is introducing the short courses which will precede the conference. This year’s edition shall focus on Process Piping and Engineering Design; Managing Tax Issues; Tendering for Local Content Projects and Winning Bids.

The Young Professionals Forum is dedicated to young engineers, geoscientist and all categories of graduates and final year students from varying disciplines will run simultaneously. The focus for these youngsters getting facilitators to equip them on how surmount job interviews, and have handy soft skills that are quite necessary for new job placements and their future roles in the industry.