The Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Mrs. OritsemeyiwaEyesan, has stressed the need to curb the skills gap in the country’s upstream oil and gas sector.
Eyesan said this when representatives of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, visited the corporate headquarters of the NUPRC in Abuja recently.
She attributed the skills deficit partly to a reduction in exploration activities prior to the advent of the current administration. This, she said, affected geologists especially.
The NUPRC boss, however, said with the renewed interest in Nigeria since the passing of the Petroleum Industry Act coupled with the business-friendly initiatives of the President Bola Tinubu administration, exploration was beginning to pick up again.
Eyesan said, “Alongside these investments comes the opportunity for technology transfer and infrastructure development. However, the major challenge remains human capacity development.
“While there may be long-term plans for broader capacity development, the immediate reality is that the industry has experienced a reduction in technical depth and opportunities in certain critical areas.
“We must deliberately build a workforce that is fit for purpose and capable of meeting the technical demands of the evolving industry.”
To achieve this, she identified three critical components that must be addressed: human capital, financial capital, and technology, which she described as essential to sustaining growth and competitiveness in the sector.
Eyesan pointed out that another major gap that must be addressed is the disconnect between academia and industry.
“If industry, academia, regulators, and technology providers work together constructively, we will accelerate progress significantly. Without deliberate collaboration, we risk slowing development and shortchanging the system,” she emphasized.
In her remarks, Donella Beaton, the Vice Principal Partnerships, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, stated that one of the reasons for the visit was the strong interest in strengthening higher education partnerships within Africa.
“We see significant opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, research development, and capacity building, particularly in advancing education, innovation, and industry collaboration,” she explained.
Beaton also spoke about the University’s Energy Transition Institute, which plays a central role in coordinating much of the institution’s work in sustainability, energy innovation, and transition planning.
“Importantly, the goal is not only simply in creating academic programmes, but in developing practical, industry-focused initiatives that deliver real impact and technical value”. She added.
