By Ejiro Nesisa
Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) is to partner with Nigeria Content Development Management Board(NCDMB) to train manpower in oil and gas related matters. This was made known when the delegation that represents the Uganda paid visit to the Management of Petroleum Training Institute, (PTI) recently.
According to Catherine Tumusime, Chief Human Resources Officer, UNOC, who led the team said the visit was to fine tune arrangements for both their organization and Nigeria to partner and work out modalities to develop capacity in the Oil and Gas sector of the Uganda’s economy. Tumusime who expressed optimism that the collaboration would be a successful one, said, the move would improve Uganda’s economy.
She said they decided to visit the institution to exchange programmes for students, tutors and those who would undertake seminars and workshops to build their capacity.
According to her,Nigeria is far ahead of their government in oil and gas related issues saying that, oil has been found in Nigeria years ago just as she said, they noticed a lot of National Content and retention in Nigeria’s oil sector. Her words: “First of all, oil has been here for quite some years. We notice a lot of National Content, and retention in the country’s oil sector. The Government’s intention is to build the capacity of their people and prevent capital flight out of the country”.
She said they have learnt value retention through National Content policies and deliberations through investments into their country and making sure that there is less capital flight of Nigeria. Tumusime, praised the leadership of the institution among whom are: Dr Tina, Registrar, the Senior Officers and others to have given them a rousing welcome and shared in their pool of knowledge.
In his speech,Engr. Felix Omotsola Ogbe, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB who was represented by Tassalla Tersugh, Head of the NCDMB’s delegation expressed gratitude for PTI for hosting the bilateral meeting between the institution and Uganda National Oil Company for knowledge sharing and collaboration in different sectors especially in oil and gas saying that, the institution is a critical stakeholders in oil and gas matters.
Earlier in her address,(Mrs) Tina lsichei, Director, Research and Development who presented the Principal/Chief Executive Office,Engr..Dr Samuel Onoji,
assured the visiting Ugandan’s delegation that, PTI is not new in the business of training foreign students through collaborative engagement such as they have come to formalize. According to lsichei, UNOC has made a good decision to seek partnership with PTI that has the requisite knowledge for training manpower in oil and gas industry. She said the vision of PTI is to lead Oil and Gas Technological Institute in Africa, while the mission is to provide competent technical manpower through quality training and consultancy based international best practice in the oil and gas industry.
According to her,the Management Board has put in place measures to ensure standards for excellence are not compromised – which has helped the institute to grow in lips and bound in this regard.