Government Urges Petroleum Training Institute to Lead Energy Transition
The Federal Government has tasked the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, with a critical role in developing the next generation of skilled professionals required to drive Nigeria’s oil and gas reforms and prepare for the global energy transition. This directive was issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nicholas Ella, during the opening of the 2025 International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology organized by PTI.
Ella, who represented both the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Rt Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted the need for the institute to focus on emerging fields such as gas valorisation, hydrogen development, and carbon capture. He emphasized that while hydrocarbons remain central to Nigeria’s economy, the world is moving towards cleaner energy solutions.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
Ella outlined three major capacity-building imperatives for PTI and the wider petroleum sector: upskilling for the energy transition, bridging the domestic skills gap, and promoting research and technology transfer. He pointed out that despite the strengthening of Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework through the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), challenges such as underutilized refineries, weak technology transfer, and workforce deficiencies persist.
He noted that the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) regime under the PIA is not yet fully operational, necessitating intervention from upstream regulators to enforce compliance. These gaps underscore the importance of training and research going beyond theoretical knowledge.
Positive Trends and Future Prospects
Despite these challenges, Ella highlighted positive trends in Nigeria’s oil sector, including an increase in production to between 1.7 and 1.83 million barrels per day and a rise in active drilling rigs from 31 to 50 within seven months in 2025. He attributed this growth to ongoing reforms under the PIA and initiatives like “Project One Million Barrels.” However, he stressed that sustaining this momentum depends on having a skilled workforce.
Ella also emphasized the importance of the DCSO being fully operational to ensure more crude is refined locally, which would boost value addition, create jobs, and strengthen energy security. He urged PTI to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into its training modules, aligning with the PIA’s provisions.
Government Expectations for PTI
The government expects PTI to align its training programs with key deliverables in the oil and gas sector. These include ensuring that at least 70% of PTI graduates secure jobs or start businesses within three years, partnering with oil companies to expand internship and apprenticeship opportunities, deploying digital learning platforms to reach more Nigerians, and establishing performance dashboards to measure graduate certification, research output, and local content impact.
Ella called for stronger research linkages between PTI, operators, and international institutions to drive innovation and domestic technology development. He also stressed the importance of sound governance and environmental stewardship in achieving sustainable growth in the hydrocarbon sector.
Environmental and Governance Focus
On environmental concerns, Ella urged Nigeria to accelerate gas-to-power, hydrogen, and carbon management projects to reduce flaring and emissions. He encouraged PTI to produce skilled professionals to lead in these emerging areas. The conference, he said, should serve as a platform for transforming Nigeria’s hydrocarbon future through measurable outcomes.
Role of Delta State
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s oil production through peace-building, community engagement, and environmental accountability. He highlighted the state’s role in stabilizing the oil and gas sector through reforms in governance and host community relations.
Receiving an Award of Excellence in Leadership from PTI, Oborevwori described the honor as a tribute to the collective resilience of the people of Delta State. He emphasized that his administration prioritizes peace and security as the foundation for investment and growth, fostering a stable operating environment through inclusive engagement with community leaders and industry operators.
Oborevwori explained that his M.O.R.E. Agenda aims to bridge the gap between resource exploitation and community well-being in the Niger Delta. He added that the state is deepening collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and PTI to expand local participation in the oil and gas value chain.
