THE ENGINEER

Ministry of Petroleum supports NSE Engineering Resource CentreThe Ministry of Petroleum haslauded the establishment of the EngineeringPractising and ResourceCentre by the Nigerian Society ofEngineers for the purpose of buildingcapacity of Nigerian Engineers toparticipate fully in the implementationof the Nigerian Content DevelopmentAct.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry,Engr. Goni M. Sheikh who wasspeaking when the President of theNigerian Society of Engineers, Engr.Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola paid him acourtesy call, said he was excited tohear that the Petroleum TechnologyDevelopment Fund (PTDF) had alreadysigned a Memorandum of Understandingwith the NSE for assistancetowards capacity building inthe Oil and Gas Industry since capacitybuilding of local engineerswas central to the realisation of theobjectives of the Nigerian ContentAct.“As Nigerian engineers, we must beready to compete. We are not lookingfor sympathy. We have a lot ofcapabilities and there is need fortraining and retraining. Oil and GasSector has infinite possibilities andwe must look at the opportunitiesand improve our skill base” he said.He also charged the Engineeringcommunities to join forces throughexpert collaboration so that their bidsfor projects can be competitive thusopening bigger windows of opportunitiesfor participation by NigeriansEngr. Sheikh assured NSE that theministry will give the needed supportto the understanding reached withthe PTDF on the Engineering Practiseand Resource Centre.Earlier, the President of the NigerianSociety of Engineers, Engr Ajibola saidthe centre was collaborating with someoverseas universities and other specialisedTraining bodies to deliver the necessarytraining needed by indigenous engineersto participate fully in the industry.He said the society was aware of the skillgap needed to be filled specifically toupdate the knowledge of members tobenefit fully from the opportunities createdby the passage of the Nigerian ContentDevelopment Act.Engr. Ajibola said the Society has identifiedone of its properties in Abuja whichis currently being developed andequipped as a State - of - the - Art EngineeringTraining Centre.Engr Sheik with President Ajibola during the visitKey NSE and COREN leaders pose inshortly before the convocation in OwerriNIPC ES, Engr. Bello receivesEngr. Ajibola in his officeEDITOR:Ikenna Emeka OkpaniPublished by Media and Publications Department,Nigerian Society of EngineersMedia@nseng.org . Branch and Divisional Chairmenshould contact us on their activities for publication inthe newsletter