OGTAN to Expand Oil and Gas Skills Base with Upcoming Trainers’ Fair

Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) announced plans to enhance human‑capacity development in the country’s petroleum sector through its 2026 Human Capacity Development (HCD) Conference and Trainers’ Fair.

The association said the initiative aims to prepare a new generation of professionals who will drive the sector’s future growth and competitiveness.

During a media briefing in Abuja, OGTAN President Chris Osarumwense explained that the conference, scheduled for August 25–27 at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Warri, Delta State, will serve as a strategic platform for addressing workforce‑development challenges in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Osarumwense said the event, themed “Empowering People, Driving Performance, Shaping the Future of the Oil & Gas Industry,” is expected to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, operators, service providers, training institutions, academics, and young professionals to discuss the future of workforce development in the sector.

He stressed that while Nigeria’s oil and gas resources remain critical to the economy, the industry’s long‑term sustainability will depend largely on the quality of its workforce.

“The oil and gas industry remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy. However, the future competitiveness and sustainability of our industry will be determined not merely by the resources beneath our soil, but by the quality, competence, innovation and adaptability of our people,” he said.

Osarumwense noted that rapid changes in the global energy landscape have heightened the need for highly skilled professionals capable of leveraging technology, improving operational performance, and delivering sustainable value.

“As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, the demand for highly skilled professionals capable of leveraging technology, driving operational excellence and delivering sustainable value has never been greater. Human capital development is therefore no longer optional; it is a strategic imperative,” he added.

The conference will feature high‑level policy dialogues and strategic discussions focused on emerging workforce challenges, skills gaps, leadership development, talent retention, digital transformation, and the future of work in the energy industry.

A major highlight will be the Trainers’ Fair and Technology Showcase, where exhibitors can demonstrate emerging learning technologies, including artificial intelligence‑powered training solutions, virtual and augmented reality simulators, competency‑management systems and other innovations shaping workforce development worldwide.

The event will also emphasize youth engagement through innovation challenges, career‑development sessions, mentorship opportunities and networking programmes designed to prepare young Nigerians for careers in the oil and gas industry.

Osarumwense said investment in people must remain central to Nigeria’s growth strategy as the country seeks to maximise the benefits of its energy resources while adapting to global industry changes.

“This conference is more than an industry event. It is a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening the foundation upon which the future of our industry rests,” he stated.

According to him, OGTAN intends to fill the gap left by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) by working closely with operators, service providers and academic institutions to ensure the continued development of highly skilled Nigerian professionals.

“That is where we come in, to ensure that the next generation of engineers can get more or better training,” Osarumwense said. “We are going to be collaborating with the operators, the service providers and academia to ensure that we properly groom and develop the next generation of engineers,” he added.

Funmi Ogbue, chairperson of the planning committee, described the event as a platform designed to align training standards in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector with global best practices while ensuring the industry’s long‑term competitiveness.

Ogbue said the conference will feature plenary sessions involving regulators, operators and trainers, alongside the OGTAN Young Professionals Innovation Challenge and Boot Camp, stressing that the gathering is intended to foster collaboration among regulators, academia, investors, operators and trainers.

“Our purpose over those three days is simple and deliberate. We want to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce. We want to align how we train with the highest global standards. And we want to make certain that our industry remains competitive, innovative, and sustainable for the decades ahead,” she said.

Ogbue called on sponsors, exhibitors, delegates and young professionals to participate actively in the conference, describing it as one of the most important workforce‑development conversations in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry this year.

Other speakers expected to bring together industry leaders include OGTAN Vice President Steve Osuoha and Chairman of the Abuja zone, Joe Oduah.