Dr. Femi Bajomo Advocates for Skills Training to Bolster Nigeria's Oil and Gas Industry
Dr. Femi Bajomo, the Chairman of Lapis Nigeria Limited, has emphasized the critical need for deliberate investment in training both technical and non-technical professionals to strengthen Nigeria's oil and gas sector and prepare a new generation of industry leaders. This call was made during an oil and gas development training organized by the firm, designed to help professionals understand the fundamentals of oil and gas development and the broader value chain that drives the industry.
Bridging Knowledge Gaps in the Sector
According to Bajomo, the training initiative seeks to bridge knowledge gaps among professionals who support the industry, including lawyers, finance experts, human resource practitioners, and external affairs specialists, in addition to engineers and other technical personnel. He stated, "The whole idea of the training is to encourage professionals, technical and non-technical, to understand the fundamentals of oil and gas development." He noted that although Nigeria remains richly endowed with oil and gas resources, the sector requires continuous investment in human capacity to sustain growth, particularly as indigenous companies increasingly take on roles previously dominated by international oil firms.
Structured Training Programs for Diverse Professionals
Bajomo explained that the program was structured to address the needs of both categories of professionals. While a two-week intensive training for technical professionals was earlier held in Port Harcourt, the current session focused on non-technical participants who support operations across the oil and gas value chain. Participants in the earlier technical training were exposed to field operations, including visits to drilling sites, refineries, flow stations, and gas plants, to deepen their practical understanding of industry operations.
He added that the training program, now in its second cohort, is expected to expand in the future to enable more professionals to benefit from the initiative. Highlighting Nigeria's strategic position in the global energy landscape, Bajomo noted that the country remains one of Africa's leading oil producers and among the top countries with abundant gas resources, stressing that oil and gas will continue to play a critical role in global energy supply.
Opportunities and Challenges in the Industry
Bajomo also pointed to emerging global developments that could present opportunities for Nigeria to boost production and strengthen its position in the international energy market. On challenges facing the industry, he said Nigeria's struggle to meet production targets in recent years was partly due to limited exploration activities and security concerns affecting pipelines and production infrastructure. However, he expressed optimism that increased drilling activities and upcoming projects would support higher production levels in the coming years.
This initiative underscores the importance of skills development in ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of Nigeria's oil and gas sector, aligning with broader efforts to enhance local capacity and drive economic growth.
