No fewer than seventy five beneficiaries of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Welders Training and Certification Programme (WTCP) have commenced a six-month post training attachment at the Kaduna and Warri refineries.
In a statement signed by Mr Kalu Otisi, Head Press and External Relations in Abuja on Friday, PTDF said the attachment was under a partnership scheme with the four major refining and petrochemical companies to facilitate on-the-job experience for PTDF trained welders.
It said that the Fund had trained more than 1,000 Nigerians at different levels of welding with International Institute of Welding Certification.
“These include Manual Metal Arc welding covering Fillet, Plate and Pipe welds and the Advanced and Specialised welding processes,’’ it said.
It added that the post-training attachment would expose the skills and competencies of the participants to the industry and would provide an opportunity for them to practice their vocations in an industry environment.
PTDF noted that it would further enhance their employability and absorption by the industry.
“This is because welding and fabrication constitute 80 per cent of the activities in the Oil and Gas industry and the Federal Government local content drive which aims at complete domiciliation of welding and fabrication activities in the industry,’’ it said.
Speaking at the handover of the batch of 50 beneficiaries attached to the Warri refinery, Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Mr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, said the programme would develop the proficiency of the trainees in industrial welding and open up opportunities for their engagement in the industry.
“This is an opportunity for our trained vocational skills graduates to receive on the job practical training for six months, and by such exposure.
“ it is our expectation that the industry will appreciate the value that they will create and add to their operations, and if they do well, it will also be an avenue for them to be absorbed by the industry, ” he said
Represented by the Head, Gas Division, Nigerian Content and Industry Collaboration Department, PTDF, Mr Peter Egheneji , Gusau said that lots of opportunities exist in the mid and downstream segments of the oil and gas sector in on-going and future projects in the industry.
“ The post training attachment scheme will create the platform for industry operators to share with PTDF some of these opportunities in order to train and attach local capacity that meet the requirements for placement on the jobs,’’ he said.
The statement further noted that the beneficiaries were received at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Executive Director, Personnel and Career development, Mrs. Musa Ariyo at the refinery complex
It said that Ariyo briefed them on the rules, regulations guiding their stay in the company.
Also, the statement noted that the trainees were taught the organisations code of conduct, clothing ethics and other rules and procedure governing their engagement and were urged to avoid high risk areas in the refinery plant.
The first batch of 25 PTDF trained welders were attached to the Kaduna Refinery under the post training attachment scheme.
The placement of PTDF trained welders to Refineries on attachment, according to the statement, is in furtherance to the implementation of a new strategic direction unfolded by the Executive Secretary, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau part of which aims at increased interface with the oil and gas industry. (NAN)
