Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited (HEOSL), operator of OML 30 on behalf of the Joint Venture between NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL) and Shoreline Natural Resources Limited (SNRL), has equipped 32 young Nigerians with industry-ready technical skills through a series of Human Capacity Development initiatives completed over the past year.
This milestone follows the successful close-out of the company’s latest Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (NC-HCD) programme in Warri. Across its recent Human Capacity Development initiatives, Heritage Energy has delivered more than 54,672 training man-hours through structured classroom learning, internationally recognised certifications and hands-on On-the-Job Training (OJT).
The trainings covered key oil and gas specialisations including mechanical engineering design, procurement and supply chain management, project cost engineering, safety engineering, crane operations, scaffolding and other critical technical competencies across the energy value chain.
Speaking on the company’s commitment to developing Nigerian talent, Heritage Energy’s Nigerian Content Development Manager, Felix Usiwo, said the company’s investment in Human Capacity Development reflects its belief that people remain the industry’s greatest asset.
“Developing local talent is fundamental to advancing Nigerian Content and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our industry,” Usiwo said.
“The industry needs people who can step into demanding technical roles with confidence which is why we invest in training that combines classroom learning with practical experience, giving participants the skills, exposure and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace.”
Speaking at one of the close-out ceremonies, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) commended Heritage Energy for its continued investment in Human Capacity Development and called for sustained collaboration between industry stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s technical workforce.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Mr Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the Board’s Manager, Human Capacity Development, Tarilatei Teide-Bribena, described Human Capacity Development as central to the Board’s mandate of increasing Nigerian participation across the oil and gas value chain.
“The NCDMB and the Federal Government cannot do it alone. We need stakeholders to collaborate with us, share in the vision behind the Board’s creation, and ensure this mandate is fulfilled. This will guarantee that the next generation of highly qualified professionals can successfully enter the industry.”
For Heritage Energy, the impact of these initiatives is best reflected in the journeys of the young professionals whose careers have been transformed through the programmes.
Across the recently concluded initiatives, participants completed rigorous classroom instruction, practical workplace training and internationally recognised certification programmes designed to prepare them for careers across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Among them is Esther Amarachukwu Agbasoga, one of the beneficiaries of the NC-HCD programme, whose experience challenged long-held perceptions about women’s participation in technical roles.
“I never imagined a woman could become a crane operator or scaffolder. Today, I can proudly say I am both.”
Her story underscores the role of Human Capacity Development in expanding opportunities for Nigerians to build careers in specialised technical fields while promoting greater diversity within the energy industry.
Other beneficiaries described the programmes as career-defining experiences.
Augustine Ocheche described the programme as a transformative learning experience that strengthened his technical competence and professional confidence, while Stanley Okwuonu, who participated in the SCADA Human Capacity Development programme, praised Heritage Energy’s commitment to participants’ welfare and practical learning throughout the training.
The DBN NC-HCD programme achieved an estimated 95 per cent competency success rate, with a 100 per cent pass rate across completed disciplines, reflecting the quality and effectiveness of the training delivered.
Human Capacity Development remains a key pillar of Heritage Energy’s Nigerian Content strategy, reflecting the company’s long-term investment in developing local capability and preparing the next generation of technical professionals for Nigeria’s energy industry.
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