The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) has entered into a Human Capacity Development (HCD) pact with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to tackle the persistent skills gap and strengthen the country’s workforce.
The agreement, which brought together regulators, industry operators, training providers and representatives of academia, was signed at the closing plenary of the OGTAN HCD Conference 2026 held in Warri, Delta State, on Friday.
The pact is aimed at promoting stronger collaboration among stakeholders in developing the technical and professional skills required to meet the evolving demands of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The stakeholders also recognised the need to align training programmes with industry requirements, improve the quality and relevance of technical education, and create more opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire employable skills.
OGTAN said the initiative was driven by the need to bridge the gap between available manpower and the specialised competencies required across the oil and gas value chain.
The association stressed that effective human capital development remained critical to ensuring that Nigerians are adequately prepared to participate in emerging opportunities in the sector, particularly as the industry continues to evolve in response to technological advancement and changing global energy dynamics.
The HCD Conference provided a platform for industry experts, regulators, operators, educators and training organisations to deliberate on strategies for building a skilled, competitive and future-ready Nigerian oil and gas workforce.
The signing of the manifesto marked the culmination of the conference and a renewed commitment by stakeholders to work collectively towards closing the sector’s skills gap and strengthening local capacity.
