NCDMB Capacity Building Initiative: Jensen Asaba Drives Isoko Manpower Development For Oil And Gas Industry

The need to increase the participation of people from oil-producing communities in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry has remained an important component of local content development. However, meaningful participation increasingly depends on relevant technical skills, industry knowledge, professional competence and appropriate certification.

It was against this background that Engr. Jensen Asaba, Director of Corporate Services, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), facilitated the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Technical Capacity Building Programme for Isoko Nation. Implemented by FEJYKE Nigeria Limited, the ten-day programme held from 27 July to 7 August 2026 at the NULGE Hall, Isoko North Local Government Secretariat, Ozoro, Delta State, and provided 50 beneficiaries with practical and theoretical training relevant to employment, entrepreneurship and professional development in the oil and gas industry.

The programme covered the structure and operations of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, including the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors, oilfield services and opportunities within Delta State. Participants were introduced to basic mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering, equipment identification, P&ID reading, basic electrical troubleshooting, process flow analysis and the use of industrial tools.

Particular attention was given to rotating equipment, including pumps, turbines and compressors, as well as practical skills such as gas cutting with acetylene and oxygen, metal grinding and cutting. These practical sessions enabled participants to connect classroom knowledge with basic industrial operations.

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) was another major component. Participants were trained in workplace safety, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hazard identification and risk assessment, Permit to Work procedures, emergency response and firefighting using a dry CO₂ extinguisher. The training emphasised the importance of safety compliance in an industry where operational risks can affect personnel, equipment and the environment.

The programme also exposed participants to NCDMB local content compliance and entrepreneurship, including the Nigeria First Policy and basic requirements for establishing an NCDMB Compliant company. This demonstrated that participation in the oil and gas industry extends beyond paid employment to contracting, entrepreneurship and the provision of industry-related services.

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Beyond technical training, participants received guidance on community engagement, Community Development Agreements, environmental management, oil spill awareness and reporting, as well as the responsibilities of operating companies and host communities.

The final phase focused on employability and career development. Participants were introduced to professional certifications, CV writing, interview techniques, workplace ethics, networking, professional associations, scholarships and other capacity-building opportunities. They also prepared individual career development plans and participated in mock interviews to help them identify the skills and qualifications required for their chosen career paths.

Following nine days of instruction and practical exercises, the tenth day was devoted to assessment, examination, evaluation and graduation. The results showed 26 participants in the Excellent category, eight in Credit, six in Good and ten in Pass. All 50 beneficiaries successfully completed the programme and qualified for certification.

At the closing ceremony, an NCDMB representative encouraged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the knowledge and support received. Certificates, starter packs and financial assistance were subsequently provided to help participants apply the skills acquired.

The importance of the intervention lies in its focus on addressing one of the challenges often associated with participation by young people from oil-producing communities: the gap between the demand for opportunities and the availability of suitably trained manpower. The trainer’s assessment indicated that many participants began the programme with limited industry exposure, HSE knowledge, employability skills and practical experience. By its conclusion, significant improvements were recorded in technical understanding, safety awareness, practical competence, confidence and workplace readiness.

For Isoko Nation, therefore, the programme represents more than a short-term training exercise. It provides a foundation for developing a technically competent workforce capable of competing for employment and business opportunities within the oil and gas industry. It also aligns with the human-capital development objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the MORE Agenda of the Delta State Government under Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, both of which recognise the importance of equipping citizens with the capacity to participate meaningfully in economic development.

The facilitation of the programme by Engr. Jensen Asaba is consequently worthy of commendation. By bringing the NCDMB intervention to Isoko Nation, 50 beneficiaries received structured technical training, practical exposure and support that can improve their prospects for employment and entrepreneurship.

However, the completion of the ten-day programme should be viewed as the beginning rather than the end of the beneficiaries’ professional development. Sustained progress will depend on further training, professional certification, practical experience, networking and effective use of the starter packs and financial support provided.

Ultimately, the success of the intervention will be measured not merely by theu number of certificates issued, but by the opportunities the beneficiaries secure, the businesses they establish, the skills they continue to develop and the knowledge they pass on to others.

For Isoko Nation, building a larger pool of trained, certified and industry-ready manpower is an important step towards securing stronger and more sustainable participation in the oil and gas industry to which the area has contributed significantly over the years.

Lawrence Efeturi
The Insight Pen
(Programme Local Coordinator)