Nigeria’s ability to deliver more of its engineering projects locally depends, in part, on the people equipped to do the work. For young Nigerians, this means having the skills, industry exposure and practical experience needed to translate academic qualifications into meaningful contributions to the country’s industrial development.

This is particularly important in the oil and gas sector, where local content development remains a priority and building indigenous capacity requires a workforce equipped to meet the technical demands of the industry. Yet, a gap persists between academic training and workplace expectations. A 2023 skills-competency survey cited by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) found that more than 70 per cent of Nigerian engineering graduates lacked the hands-on technical skills required by modern industry, while only about five per cent were assessed as industry-ready at graduation.

Closing this gap requires more than academic qualifications. It requires access to industry, practical training, mentorship and opportunities to learn directly from experienced professionals and engage with the technical and operational realities of the workplace. Recognising the importance of developing local engineering talent, Dorman Long Engineering Limited (DLE), which has operated in Nigeria since 1949, is contributing to this effort through partnerships with professional bodies, graduate and internship programmes, and initiatives that recognise academic excellence.

Creating Opportunities Through Industry Partnerships

Recognising that the transition from education to employment requires opportunities to apply knowledge in practical settings, Dorman Long Engineering Limited (DLE) works with professional bodies to support emerging engineering talent.

A key part of this effort is DLE’s participation in the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria’s (PETAN) 2025–2027 Graduate Internship Programme. The two-year engagement commenced in October 2025 and is scheduled to conclude in October 2027. Through the programme, three graduate trainees—Gbobodo Orezi, Jeffery Obiekwu and Akande Abdulqudus—are gaining practical experience at Dorman Long Engineering. Their placements provide opportunities to develop their professional capabilities and gain first-hand exposure to the technical and operational demands of an indigenous engineering company serving the energy sector.

Similarly In March 2025, DLE formalised its collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) through a Memorandum of Understanding focused on training, consultancy and human-capital development. The agreement provides for structured training opportunities for NSE student members and a one-year graduate training programme, with stipends, for graduate members. Under the partnership, five beneficiaries participated in the initiative: three National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) interns and two Industrial Training (IT) interns. The NYSC participants were Stephen Ehirim Chinecherem, Adebowale Adams and Agbalaya Fathia, while Ajewole Enoch and Esther Idowu participated as IT interns. The programme has concluded, with Adebowale Adams retained by DLE, providing a tangible example of how industry placements can create pathways to continued employment.

Recognising Academic Excellence at ABUAD

Dorman Long Engineering’s engagement with emerging engineering talent also extends to the university level, where it recognises outstanding academic performance as part of its commitment to developing Nigeria’s engineering workforce.

In 2025, the company partnered with Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) for its annual Best Graduating Engineering Student Award initiative. Through the partnership, DLE sponsored three awards of ₦500,000 each, amounting to ₦1.5 million, for outstanding graduates in Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The recipients were Osigwe Marvelous Chinaecherem, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.77; Onyilokwu Favour Nelson, with a CGPA of 4.88; and Ozigbu Obinna Daniel, also with a CGPA of 4.88. The relationship between DLE and ABUAD also extends to professional experience. Japhet Obruche Lucky, an ABUAD best graduating student, is currently undertaking his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placement in DLE’s Engineering Department. His placement provides an opportunity to build on the technical foundation developed at university through exposure to professional engineering practice.

Contributing to the Future of Nigerian Engineering

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its industrial capacity, developing a skilled and experienced workforce will remain an important priority. DLE’s initiatives represent a practical contribution to that effort, linking academic foundations with opportunities for professional exposure while recognising excellence and supporting the development of the next generation of Nigerian engineers.
These efforts align with the objectives of Nigeria Agenda 2050, the country’s long-term development framework, which identifies human-capital development, education, industrialisation, infrastructure and environmental management as key development priorities. They also complement the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s (NCDMB) mandate to deepen indigenous capacity and strengthen local participation in the oil and gas industry. At the global level, DLE’s initiatives relate to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), through the recognition of academic achievement; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), through opportunities for workplace learning; and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), through the development of engineering capabilities.