Training, Panacea For Unemployment In N’Delta

An expert in the oil and gas industry, Engineer Adumene Kpelo has emphasized the need for specialized training in various oil and gas-related skills as the only way of populating  the industry with local content, and arresting the unemployment crisis in the Niger Delta.

Kpelo, who is a drilling specialist and certified trainer, disclosed this during an interview with The Tide, shortly after the graduation of the first batch of trainees of the King Alfred Air Marine Foundation (KAAMF) at Eligbolo, Port Harcourt, last week.

Although the Niger Delta is the hub of oil and gas in Nigeria, he said, youths from the oil-rich region have always been denied employment opportunities.

According to him, the denial of such opportunities was always attributed to dearth of technical and specialty trained personnel in the region.

Using this as an excuse, he said, the oil companies always give sensitive employment opportunities to outsiders, thereby compounding the unemployment rate in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Kpelo, whose experience in the oil and gas industry spans about 20 years, said,  he was ready to put in his wealth of experience in the service of the Niger Delta by training youths in various skills, such as, drilling, well control, blow-out prevention, among others.

The drilling engineer, who is presently in the service of KAAMF as chief trainer, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government for sponsoring the training of youths in skills that will enhance their technical competences and abilities.

He said the opportunities should be extended to more youths in Rivers State in particular and Niger Delta in general to enable them participate actively in the oil and gas industry.

Beemene  Taneh