By Patrick Obia
The Cross River State Government has commenced a skills development program aimed at training 2,000 young Cross Riverians in oil and gas-related fields and equipping them with internationally relevant professional certifications.
The program, themed: “Skill Up in the Season of Sweetness,” is focused on expanding opportunities for young Cross Riverians to acquire technical skills and compete for jobs and business opportunities within the oil and gas industry.
Flagging off the program at the State Library Complex, Calabar, special guest of honor, Governor Bassey Otu said the initiative was part of the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment, human capital development and economic inclusion.
Governor Otu represented by the Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Elvert Ayambem, noted that opportunities in the oil and gas sector extend beyond exploration and production to areas including engineering, logistics, safety, environmental management, procurement, maintenance and data services.
He said the training of 2,000 youths through CPD-accredited certificate and diploma programs represents an investment in the productive capacity of the beneficiaries and the wider state.
Otu urged beneficiaries to take the training seriously and see the certifications as a foundation for continuous professional development, entrepreneurship and participation in the wider economy.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting programs that provide young people with access to skills, enterprise opportunities and productive employment.
Speaking at the flag off, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Ukpong Umoh, said the initiative was designed to go beyond the issuance of certificates by providing participants with practical knowledge and professional competencies.
Umoh said the oil and gas industry offers opportunities in several areas, including engineering, fabrication, logistics, marine services, environmental management, health and safety, technology and maintenance, stressing the need for properly trained and competent personnel.
He urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, ask questions, learn from their instructors and familiarize themselves with industry standards to prepare for future opportunities.
The Special Adviser challenged the participants to look beyond seeking employment and consider becoming entrepreneurs, service providers and innovators capable of creating jobs.
He said the state government’s vision was to develop a skilled workforce capable of representing Cross River competitively in the oil and gas industry while contributing to the state’s economic development.
Umoh also encouraged the beneficiaries to make maximum use of the opportunity, describing the training as a platform for developing competencies rather than merely obtaining certificates.
Also speaking, the Director of Research Gateway Institute, ThankGod Arong Onda, said the initiative was designed to prepare Cross River youths with professional qualifications and skills needed to compete in the labor market and take advantage of opportunities in the oil and gas sector.
Onda said the program was conceived through research into the skills gap among youths and discussions with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, which eventually led to government support for the initiative.
He described the training as different from conventional vocational programs, noting that participants would receive specialized preparation relevant to the oil and gas industry.
Onda said the training would be extended across the state’s 18 local government areas, with sessions scheduled to take place in different locations before the program’s final graduation ceremony.
The State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Cross River chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Udayi, lauded the initiative.
“So all these put together is geared towards youth development, youth empowerment and economic emancipation of young persons in Cross River States.
He said when youths are empowered, they are emancipated, adding: “you think better, you think readily and that will also add to a better Cross River State, which is the end result. We are looking at these things, all these skills to be put back into Cross River.”
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