Ofure Akhigbe
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) has graduated 331 young Nigerians from its Train 7 Human Capital Development Basic Training Programme, a statutory Nigerian Content requirement designed to strengthen the nation’s technical workforce and reduce reliance on expatriate labour.
The graduation ceremony, held on Monday in Port Harcourt, marked the completion of a year-long intensive training covering engineering and other technical disciplines linked to the $10 billion Train 7 gas expansion project.
Speaking at the event, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Sophia Horsfall, said the company’s investment in human capacity was a deliberate business strategy tied to Nigeria’s economic future.
“The most valuable of all capital is human capital. For us at NLNG, investing in people is not just corporate responsibility; it is a catalyst for a thriving economy and a sustainable future,” Horsfall said.
She noted that the Train 7 Human Capital Development Programme, mandated under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, remains a key pillar of NLNG’s Nigerian Content Plan.
“From inception to date, Train 7 has created over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. It has also recorded more than 70 million safe man-hours without Lost Time Injury, while enabling massive technology transfer to Nigerians at all levels,” she added.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe, described the scheme as a model for sustainable talent development in the oil and gas industry.
Represented by the NCDMB General Manager, Human Capital Development, Esueme Kikile, Ogbe said the programme reflects the successful implementation of the Board’s Human Capital Development Guidelines 2020.
“The HCD component of the Train 7 Project is deliberately designed to secure a sustainable talent pipeline for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,” he said.
He added that Train 7, one of Africa’s largest ongoing gas infrastructure projects, is reshaping Nigeria’s technical capacity by producing professionals equipped with advanced competencies.
The 331 trainees were selected from 848 applicants via the NCDMB NOGIC JQS portal and underwent classroom instruction, industry certifications and hands-on training at a live LNG facility. Their training covered engineering, ICT, marine and offshore services, welding and fabrication, non-destructive testing, quality management, facility maintenance and HSE standards.
NLNG also provided mentorship, healthcare support, accommodation, feeding allowances and laptops with licensed software.
NLNG Train 7 Project Director, Ali Uwais, said the programme was producing not just technicians but “globally competitive professionals.”
“This programme is about creating well-rounded professionals who can thrive in dynamic environments,” he said, urging the graduates to see themselves as future leaders in the energy sector.
“The world is your oyster. Use these skills to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and national development.”
Uwais further disclosed that Train 7 is driving new industrial capacity nationwide, citing the commissioning of a 10,000-ton-per-annum galvanising plant in Okrika by Daewoo Engineering, which has raised Nigeria’s galvanising capacity to over 180,000 tons annually.
“Train 7 is a blueprint for sustainable industrial growth,” he said.