The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has formally launched the Centre for Marine and Offshore Technology Development (CMOTD). The centre, established under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, aims to promote the growth and adoption of marine and offshore technologies, research, and training in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

Speaking shortly after the unveiling and inspection of the facility at the Rivers State University campus, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Ogbe, stated that the Board was established to promote the growth of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.

Ogbe, accompanied by the Vice Chancellor of RSU, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, during the inspection, pointed out that the NCDMB is responsible for implementing the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, which aims to increase local participation in the sector. He commended the centre for moving to bridge the existing skills gap in Nigeria’s maritime and oil and gas industry.

The NCDMB boss also mentioned that through its various units and initiatives, the Board collaborates with CMOTD to ensure that Nigerian Content principles are implemented and advanced in the marine and offshore technology sector.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the programme, the CEO/Secretary of the Centre for Marine and Offshore Technology Development (CMOTD), Vitalis Ahiakwo, stated that the centre was established out of the need to close the skills gap in Nigeria’s maritime security and oil and gas sectors and to develop its blue economy sector through the “Back-to-Creek” programme of the NCDMB.

Ahiakwo mentioned that the objective of the centre is to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge needed for the offshore oil and gas sector and related fields, and to develop personnel for the marine and offshore industries. “With the “Back to Creek, Forward with Skills” initiative of the NCDMB, CMOTD is strengthening Nigeria’s future through research and training in oil, gas, marine, and offshore infrastructure. It addresses Nigeria’s national technical capacity gap in marine, offshore, and energy infrastructure with inclusive, practical, high-impact professional training.

“CMOTD programmes include, but are not limited to, Practical Ship Design & Construction (with AVEVA Marine), Subsea Design & Offshore Structures, Oil Well Optimisation, Big Data Analytics for Energy Systems, Floating Systems, ROVs, and Simulation Labs, as well as Customised Technical Short Courses for all levels,” he said.

He added that the centre currently runs programmes on shipbuilding, automation, data analysis, transformer repairs and maintenance, and international class welding. “We know very well that this aspect of engineering is something that is really rare, so in trying to cover that gap in this sector, we have to groom our own engineers so they will not just be conventional theoretical graduates, but they will have the hands-on experience required by the industry to improve in the area of shipbuilding in Nigeria.

“You can see what’s happening in our waterways—various companies and individuals building vessels without following the proper classification or standards required. So, in this case, we said that as engineers, we need to step in to ensure that we don’t just have floating vehicles on the water that could cause chaos,” he said.

The National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architect, Dr. Eferebo Sylvanus, stated that the centre currently has 305 trainees being sponsored by the NCDMB.

Sylvanus, who also represents the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN, stated that the centre realised this critical need for the gap in this sector to be closed. “The good thing is, the international certification, the software licenses, the partnerships, all these costs are being subsidised because of the intervention of the Nigerian content development and monitoring board under the policy of the new ES and this back-to-creek project,” he stated.