PROPERTY ARTICLES

ENGINEERS have urged the government and professional bodies to review current certification requirements in the oil and gas sector and formulate a local standard, which would enable indigenous workforce to compete with their foreign counterparts.

They made their submission under the aegis of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE); a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at the maiden public lecture of the body organized by the Lagos chapter on Challenges of Maturing an Appropriate Workforce for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The engineers noted that the external nature of most of the certifying bodies has denied some Nigerian firms of well trained hands on appropriate systems. They also argue that the dearth of artisans in the construction industry was due the inability of the government to provide training centres.

The National Chairman, NIMechE, Adeyemi Oyedepo said the topic is apt due to the growing need of students and young graduate to have practical experience in the field. He said the academic curriculum of universities needs to be reviewed to offer practical hands on experience to undergraduates.

Speaking as guest lecturer, a senior staff, Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Godwin Idoko challenged business to rise to the occasion and determine themselves bold and articulated strategies of maturing and retaining the appropriate workface in order to transform to a bigger performing companies that will thrive locally and develop capability to export services.

He canvassed for local companies to aspire beyond local opportunities and begin to institute structure; standards that will enable them compete globally. Idoko said that certification needs to be accorded more priority to ensure that more local staff achieve required competency to work in oil and gas assets and offshore.

According to Idoko, professional associations through the local content commission should define competencies in case of some crafts to ensure conformance with external regulation agencies and bodies.

But Adisa Momoh, disclosed that there are standards for mechanical engineers by previous regimes, and urged the present national executives to up date them and use it to certify personnel.

However, Dr. Uche obiajulu argued that the collapse of the government technical colleges have made it difficult to get qualified craftsmen as workforce and advised government to reverse the trend.

Earlier, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Mr. Ayo Fanimokun disclosed that the body is having engineering collaboration with University of Lagos, Lagos State university , Covenant University and Lagos State Polytechnic and Yaba College of Technology, where the best final year project in these institutions will be awarded prices at the end of current session. Fanimokun further said that the chapter plans to acquire a secretariat as part of the institution goals of fostering excellence in engineering practice.