NigerDock deepens local content, graduates 48 trainees from its training academy

NigerDock a member of the Jagal Group has graduated 48 trainees from it Engina Human Capital Development professional training course after completing 125,000 man hours over the course of 15 months.

The successful candidates were from a batch of 100 who were successful in an aptitude test organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and sponsored by Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Ltd and Total Upstream Nigeria Limited. They join over 6,000 professionals who have passed through NigerDock’s training programme.

Sixteen areas of discipline were covered in the 313-day training in a range of skills including project management, quality assurance, occupational health and safety, commercial, welding, fitting, painting and coating, fabrication, machining, lifting, rigging and scaffolding.

Emeka Anazia, head of the Niger Dock Training Academy in a speech at the graduation ceremony said the methodology was blended including classroom instruction, workshop, practical sessions and on the job training.

“What makes NigerDock the local content champion is that in this training programme as well as others, trainees were grafted into on-going projects like the Total Engina project giving them an opportunity to have a hands-on, practical training rather than simulations that others do.”

NigerDock also said that the trainees were exposed to areas beyond their core expertise and reported no loss time on account of safety issues.

Erere Otavboruo, one of the beneficiaries of the training tells BusinessDay of his experience, “It was a remarkable opportunity to participate in the programme, we have been given skills that will make a difference in our lives.”

However, unlike in the past, neither NigerDock nor its partners in the training, Samsung and Total Upstream, would be retaining the graduates. “As a result of shortage of projects in the industry, we would not be retaining the graduate at this time,” says Kalu Imo, Samsung Nigerian content manager.

He assured that the graduates would be on their priority list when a project commences. Taiwo Osikoya, a senior Nigerian Content engineer with Total Upstream also made the same commitment.

Nigerdock Training facility consists of workshops and machining rooms that are fully equipped with welding booths, pipe-fitting benches, lathes, milling machines, fully equipped classrooms, an ICT room and a comprehensive technical library.

ISAAC ANYAOGU