The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, and labour unions to prepare Nigeria’s workforce for the future of energy. He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 4th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja.
Speaking before ministers, industry leaders, and union representatives, the Executive Secretary praised PENGASSAN for safeguarding workers’ welfare and stressed that Nigeria’s energy sector must adapt quickly to global shifts in technology and the energy transition.
He highlighted PTDF’s impact, including the training of 15,000 Nigerians through scholarships, the certification of over 1,700 welders, and the upgrade of 26 universities and 214 ICT centres nationwide.
Looking ahead, he unveiled major initiatives:
• PTDF STEM Programme to reach 1,000 schools nationwide, distributing 1 million STEM textbooks and updating Nigeria’s teachers’ guide for science education.
• College of Petroleum and Energy Studies Kaduna (CPESK), set to admit its first postgraduate students in September 2025 in collaboration with international universities and NNPC Ltd.
• Centre for Skills Development and Training (CSDT), Port Harcourt, to deliver vocational and technical training.
• Clean Gas Capacity Building Programme, to equip professionals with low-carbon and CNG expertise in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He emphasized:
“The choices we make today will determine whether Nigeria remains a passive observer or becomes an active leader in the global energy landscape.”
The Summit brought together key stakeholders to discuss labour, skills, and the future of work in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
