Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Yesterday, the federal government launched the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) along with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) technical working group and the NGEP/Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) initiative, aimed at enhancing gas knowledge throughout the country.
In his remarks at the initiative in Abuja, Nicholas Ella, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, emphasized that in today’s global landscape, it is increasingly expected for graduates of technical colleges to possess soft skills that equip them for entrepreneurship right after graduation.
He explained that this initiative is part of a strategic effort to integrate specialized skills into the curriculums of higher education institutions, particularly technical colleges, to address the skill gaps in crucial sectors of the economy.
The committees will be led by the NGEP chairman, Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim. Ella highlighted that technology and innovation are inherently people-driven, which necessitates Nigeria’s commitment to introducing specialized training modules in the curriculums of technical colleges.
The main goal of this working group is to devise a comprehensive training curriculum for gas entrepreneurs at both monotechnics and polytechnics. As part of its mandate, the group will develop a detailed curriculum for training gas entrepreneurs in LPG, LNG, CNG, and bio-gas, covering technical, commercial, logistical, and other aspects of the gas value chain. Additionally, it will establish a framework for assessing and evaluating the current capabilities—human resources, infrastructure, and educational tools—available in Nigeria’s technical institutions for such training. The report is expected to be submitted by November 15, 2024.
Regarding the NGEP/CORBON working group, Ella indicated that it is anticipated to formulate a policy aimed at implementing best practices for gas (LPG, PNG, and BioGas) distribution within Nigeria’s building industry. Its remit includes reviewing the building code relating to safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability concerning gas installations and usage.
The group will also evaluate current gas distribution systems in various building types—residential, commercial, and industrial—across other nations and recommend quality standards for materials and equipment.
In his comments, NGEP chairman Ibrahim noted that the program’s goal is to foster innovation at the grassroots level in the building industry, which is a cornerstone of modern societies.
“There’s no modern civilization where energy is still distributed in the old, inefficient ways. We are focused on enhancing the capacity building of our mono- and polytechnics in the country to effectively leverage gas entrepreneurship,” Ibrahim said.
He added, “We believe that by creating a critical mass, the nation can truly benefit from the diverse energy solutions that the NGEP and the Ministry of Petroleum are bringing to the forefront.”