The Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) plans to launch a diaspora engineering initiative to harness the expertise of Nigerian engineers working abroad, strengthen the country’s domestic engineering capacity and support the transfer of specialised technical knowledge to a new generation of professionals.

Developed as part of the institution’s new human capital development agenda, the initiative is expected to create structured opportunities for Nigerian engineers in the diaspora to reconnect with the domestic industry through mentorship, technical collaboration, research and knowledge transfer.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 6th National Executive Committee of NIPetE in Abuja, the newly elected National Chairman of the body, Dr Yetunde Aladeitan, said the initiative had become particularly important as the Nigerian petroleum industry undergoes a major transition, with International Oil Companies (IOCs) divesting some of their interests and indigenous operators assuming greater responsibility for assets and operations.

“As IOCs divest and indigenous operators take the lead, a highly skilled local workforce is critical,” Aladeitan said.

She said NIPetE would seek to leverage the experience of Nigerian professionals who had built careers in other petroleum-producing countries and gained exposure to advanced technologies, engineering practices and international operating standards.

Rather than viewing the departure of skilled Nigerian professionals solely as a loss to the country, the initiative is expected to create mechanisms through which their expertise can continue to contribute to the development of the domestic profession.

For the engineering profession, the initiative could provide access to a pool of experienced specialists in areas where Nigeria needs to deepen its technical capabilities, including reservoir management, well engineering, production optimisation, digital engineering, project management and other specialised fields.

The programme is also expected to complement NIPetE’s planned mentorship and internship scheme, which will connect young petroleum engineers with experienced industry professionals.

According to Aladeitan, the objective is to build a stronger pipeline of engineers capable of assuming increasingly complex technical and managerial responsibilities as the petroleum industry evolves.

The significance of the diaspora initiative extends beyond providing individual expertise.

By connecting professionals abroad with universities, indigenous operators and professional institutions in Nigeria, NIPetE could facilitate the transfer of international engineering practices into the domestic industry.

This could include joint technical projects, professional training, research collaboration, guest lectures, mentorship and short-term specialist engagements, allowing Nigerian companies and institutions to benefit from diaspora expertise without requiring every professional to relocate to Nigeria permanently.

The initiative could also give indigenous operators access to a wider pool of specialised Nigerian talent at a time when they are increasingly required to operate assets and take on technical responsibilities previously handled by multinational oil companies.

For younger engineers, the programme could provide exposure to global engineering standards and practical experience that are difficult to acquire solely through conventional university education.

Aladeitan said NIPetE would also work with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to strengthen university curricula and improve the link between academic training and the skills the industry requires.

The institution plans to facilitate sabbaticals for academics and advocate sponsorship for engineering equipment and laboratories in universities, alongside expanding professional training in areas such as well engineering, production optimisation and digital transformation.

These measures, combined with the Diaspora Engineering Initiative, aim to address a broader challenge facing the profession: ensuring that the expansion of Nigerian participation in the petroleum industry is matched by the availability of professionals with the technical competence required to manage increasingly complex operations.

The initiative therefore represents a potential shift in how Nigeria approaches the engineering brain drain.

Instead of treating the diaspora solely as professionals who have left the country, NIPetE is seeking to establish a channel through which their accumulated expertise, international networks and professional experience can continue to strengthen the domestic engineering ecosystem.

She said NIPetE would also expand its professional training programmes, with additional courses in well engineering, production optimisation and digital transformation, while scaling up its Reservoir Simulation Training Programme.

Aladeitan said the institution’s broader engagement with indigenous operators would also focus on workforce development, alongside technology adoption and local content.

The NIPetE chairman said the institution had already begun laying the foundation for the new agenda through technical seminars and training programmes, including its Reservoir Simulation Training Programme and a technical seminar on well completion.

She said the first six months of her tenure had focused on rebuilding the institution and strengthening its engagement with industry stakeholders.

For NIPetE, Aladeitan said the priority would be to ensure Nigerian engineers have the technical competencies required to fill the jobs and leadership positions emerging from the industry’s transformation.

She urged members of the institution to support the agenda, stressing that building a stronger professional workforce required collective commitment.

“These are our goals, not mine alone. The task is immense, but so is our collective capability,” she said.