KEY POINTS
- Oando has launched a 12-month drilling engineering training programme for young Nigerians.
- The programme combines technical classes with practical training linked to the Obiafu 44 well.
- Oando, NCDMB and Hilong aim to strengthen local technical skills as indigenous oil firms expand.
Oando Energy Resources Nigeria Limited, OERNL, a subsidiary of Oando Plc, has launched a 12-month drilling engineering training programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with specialised technical skills needed in the country’s evolving oil and gas industry.
The programme, which began on September 4, 2026, in Port Harcourt, is being implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Hilong Oil Service & Engineering Nigeria Limited.
The initiative combines classroom-based instruction with practical, on-the-job training, giving participants an opportunity to develop technical knowledge while gaining exposure to real-world drilling operations.
OERNL said the programme is designed to create a strong pipeline of Nigerian technical professionals capable of supporting the safe, efficient and sustainable operation of oil and gas assets.
Participants will receive training in several areas of drilling engineering, including Basic Drilling Engineering Operations, well planning and design, Measurement While Drilling (MWD), Logging While Drilling (LWD), drilling rig operations and well-log data analytics.
Beyond technical training, the programme also covers entrepreneurship, business management and digital skills. These additional areas are expected to give participants a broader understanding of the energy industry and improve their ability to pursue opportunities across the wider energy value chain.
The company said the combination of technical and business-oriented training would help beneficiaries develop skills that extend beyond conventional drilling operations.
A major component of the programme is its link to an ongoing oilfield project.
The training is connected to the provision of turnkey Joint Venture services for the workover and recompletion of the Obiafu 44 well. This arrangement will allow participants to complement theoretical lessons with direct exposure to the operational environment.
The practical component is intended to help trainees understand the demands of drilling and petroleum operations, while giving them experience that can be applied to future employment and professional opportunities.
