Amid growing pressure to improve efficiency and sustain output in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria has renewed calls for deeper investment in human capacity development, describing workforce quality as a decisive factor in the sector’s long-term performance.
The association made its position known during a press briefing held ahead of its 2026 Human Capacity Development (HCD) Conference and Trainers’ Fair scheduled for August in Warri. According to industry stakeholders, the event is expected to bring together regulators, operators, academia, and training institutions to address persistent skills gaps in the oil and gas value chain.
“Human Capacity Remains One of the Biggest Issues”
Speaking at the briefing, OGTAN President Chris Osarumwense said the industry continues to struggle with a shortage of adequately trained personnel capable of meeting modern operational demands.
“Human capacity remains one of the biggest issues in the industry today. There is still a disconnect between what is taught in Nigerian universities and what the industry actually needs. In many cases, companies spend between 12 and 18 months retraining graduates before they become industry-ready,” he said.
His remarks highlight a long-standing concern within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector: that academic training often fails to fully align with practical, field-based requirements, leaving companies to bridge the gap through extensive in-house retraining.
Bridging Academia and Industry Expectations
Osarumwense explained that OGTAN is working to reduce this mismatch by strengthening collaboration between universities, technical institutes, and industry operators. The aim, he said, is to ensure graduates enter the workforce with skills that are immediately relevant to operational realities.
He also pointed to a structural shift in the industry—the transition from international oil companies to indigenous operators—as a development that has increased the urgency of building strong local expertise.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged that local firms have maintained production levels after taking over assets, describing their performance as encouraging but dependent on sustained investment in human capital development.
Rising Costs and Operational Challenges
Beyond workforce issues, Osarumwense identified insecurity, pipeline vandalism, and inefficient logistics as key drivers of rising production costs in the sector.
He noted that the growing reliance on alternative transport methods, such as trucking crude oil instead of pipelines, significantly increases operational expenses and reduces efficiency.
However, he maintained that improving workforce competence, alongside stronger infrastructure and security systems, would gradually help reduce these costs and improve overall industry performance.
Technology Reshaping Oil and Gas Skills
The OGTAN president also drew attention to the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and cybersecurity, which are rapidly reshaping the skills required in the oil and gas workforce.
He warned that without continuous upskilling, Nigeria risks widening the gap between industry demands and available talent, particularly as global energy operations become more technology-driven.
2026 Conference to Focus on Future Workforce
Chairman of the planning committee, Funmi Ogbue, announced that the 2026 Human Capacity Development Conference and Trainers’ Fair will take place from August 25 to 27 at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.
She said the event, themed “Empowering People. Driving Performance. Shaping the Future of the Oil and Gas Industry,” will focus on building a globally competitive workforce capable of meeting both local and international standards.
According to her, the programme will feature policy dialogues, exhibitions of modern training technologies, youth-focused sessions, and an awards ceremony recognising excellence in human capacity development.
People-Centred Strategy for Industry Growth
Ogbue emphasised that sustained investment in people remains central to improving productivity, strengthening local content participation, and ensuring long-term stability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
As the industry navigates production pressures, security concerns, and technological disruption, OGTAN’s message is clear: equipment and infrastructure matter, but without a skilled workforce, long-term growth in the sector remains difficult to achieve.