Page 17 - AfrOil Week 41 2021

AfrOil NEWS IN BRIEF AfrOil

The commissioning of the facility was performed
by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom
Gabriel Emmanuel, represented by the Secretary
to the State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem
and the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi
Kesiye Wabote.
In his address, the Executive Secretary dis-
closed that NCDMB invests in the rehabilita-
tion of Technical and Vocational Education and
Training Institutions, (TVETs) because they pro-
vide platforms to job creation and self-empower-
ment. He added that the development of skilled others. He also challenged youths of the country overhauling their regulatory frameworks, with
technicians drives the socio-economic growth to acquire marketable skills and competencies a view to facilitating investment into large-scale
aspirations of the President Muhammadu that will position them to overcome the high energy projects. As fallout from COVID-19 ren-
Buhari’s administration and engages youths in rate of poverty, social vices, unemployment and ders the regulatory landscape a decisive criterion
productive ventures. underemployment in the country. against which investors measure their decisions,
He emphasised the need to provide high He hinted that harnessing and refocusing the the harmonisation of international petroleum
quality manpower training and skills devel- creative energies of youths to productive endeav- standards in Africa has become a prerequisite
opment for the teeming youths in the country, ours through an aggressive skills development for sustainable energy development.
which was why the Board undertook a study on training in various relevant trades will foster In fact, regulations that are not harmonised
TVETs in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers states sustainable development. with those of other global producers can be a
to understand the factors militating against the In his remarks, the Governor commended major impediment to foreign direct investment.
optimal performance of those institutions. the Board for partnering with the state to ren- Nigeria’s PIB, for example, was estimated by the
He mentioned that the Board had finalised ovate and upgrade the technical facility to cre- country’s Department of Petroleum Resources
plans for the implementation of a public-private ate job opportunities for skilled manpower, to incur $15bn in lost investments per year
in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State and which illustrates patriotism and commitment to before its adoption.
a specialist modern furniture production firm, national development. As a result, African nations are working to
owned and managed by an indigene of the Abak He asserted that the project was in line with integrate best standards within their laws and
community, in which a certain percentage of the the administration’s industrialisation policy of regulations that are broadly recognised in mar-
proceeds will be ploughed back for the opera- taking youths off the street through efficient kets worldwide.
tional maintenance of the facilities to achieve skills acquisition and empowerment, and an The American Petroleum Institute (API), for
self-sustenance. incubation process of converting these skills into its part, serves as a critical partner in this process.
Wabote commended the Abak community entrepreneurial gains and self-reliance. As the largest US trade association for the oil and
and Akwa Ibom State Government for their The Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State natural gas industry, the organisation represents
cooperation in actualising the projects, stating Technical Schools Board, (ASTEB), Elder God- nearly 600 corporations involved in production,
that the Board’s decision to have earmarked win Udom also stated that the cardinal objective refining, distribution and other segments along
GTC, Abak as one of the flagship beneficiaries of technical schools is to train persons in diverse the petroleum industry value chain. API’s mis-
of its institutional upgrade programme was not practical fields, adding that such schools needed sion is to promote safety across the global indus-
an effort in futility. He thanked all stakeholders standard and well-equipped workshops with try and influence public policy in support of a
for the zero-incidence recorded and the unparal- specialised instructors in different robust US oil and gas sector.
leled hospitality the Abak community extended Elder Udom expressed gratitude to NCDMB Leading the panel, The Energy Investor
to the contractors and personnel. for the project, noting that the project which Roundtable: Global Standards and Best Prac-
He charged the technical institution which commenced on January 27, 2019 was now ready tices, API has signed on as a sponsor of the
is one of the foremost in the region to become for the students to acquire modern skills in fur- upcoming US-Africa Energy Forum 2021, a
a Centre of Excellence in carpentry/woodwork niture making and for the staff to update their two-day event highlighting investment and
through the provision of high-quality training knowledge and also assist the unemployed in the partnership opportunities across the African
to both teachers and students in an affordable, community. energy value chain and repositioning the US
safe, sustainable and efficient manner, while NCDMB, October 11 2021 as the primary partner of choice, taking place
satisfying the yearnings of the local and inter- in Houston, on December 9-10. Among other
national furniture industry as part of efforts to key objectives, the session will tackle how to cre-
create wealth and diversify the economy while LEGAL ate an enabling environment for future energy
increasing foreign exchange earnings. investment; anticipated merger and acquisition
The Executive Secretary decried the low level African petroleum activity; the role of government commitments
of students’ enrolment into TVETs institutions, and private sector input in implementing best
which is less than 1% of the total enrolment in standards carry weight for practices; and the impact of key legislation on
conventional secondary schools. mitigating perceived risk.
Noting that youths make up more than 50% US foreign investors API has been active in promoting interna-
of the nation’s population, he regretted that the tional petroleum standards and management
nation is yet to fully harness its potential in driv- With Nigeria passing its long-awaited Petroleum systems across African petroleum markets, spe-
ing economic growth as many young people are Industry Bill (PIB) in July and Equatorial Guinea cifically building a three-year plan to harmonise
faced with challenges ranging from lack of prac- announcing plans to revise its Hydrocarbon standards in the West African region.
tical skills, unemployment and illiteracy, among Law last week, Africa’s leading oil producers are Energy Capital & Power, October 7 2021

Week 41 13•October•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P17