The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has certified another 400 welders after they were trained through the International Institute of Welding Certification that makes them professional welders in the oil and gas sector.
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has certified another 400 welders after they were trained through the International Institute of Welding Certification that makes them professional welders in the oil and gas sector.
A statement by its Media Head, Kalu Otisi said the present 400 welders bring to 1,500 the number of Nigerians trained by PTDF at different levels of welding and fabrication processes at the different welding and fabrication authorised training centres in Minna, Bauchi, Port-Harcourt and Lagos under the PTDF Welders Training and Certification Programme.
In his address at the Port-Harcourt centre, PTDF Executive Secretary, Femi Ajayi said the milestone is part of the Fund's drive to up-skill Nigerians in welding and fabrication capabilities. "PTDF is currently undertaking an evaluation of the welding and fabrication capabilities of all tertiary institutions and private training centres to ascertain the current capacities of various tertiary and private welding and fabrication training institutions in-country," he said.
PTDF intervention is geared towards filling up the needed requirement of 8,000 skilled welders to effectively man on-going and planned oil and gas projects in Nigeria as revealed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Executive Secretary, Arc Denzil Kentebe at the ceremony said though the 1,500 welders produced by PTDF is a far cry on the needed capacity in the welding sector, it is a significant step towards bridging the gap.
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