By Adebayo Obajemu
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained investment in human capital development, describing a highly skilled workforce as essential to the long-term growth and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
Lokpobiri made this known after receiving the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, and members of the Fund’s management team, who briefed him on the progress of key operational activities, including the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK).
In a statement posted on his official X account, the minister said the meeting focused on strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s petroleum workforce and promoting sustainable development in the oil and gas sector.
“I received the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Professor Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, alongside members of the Fund’s management team, who paid me an official visit to brief me on the progress of some of their key operational activities, including the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna,” Lokpobiri stated.
He stressed that continuous investment in education, research and specialised manpower development remains indispensable to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s energy sector.
“Our discussion reinforced the importance of sustained investment in human capital by equipping our people with the skills and knowledge that are indispensable to national growth and the long-term sustainability of our systems,” he said.
According to the minister, developing a highly skilled workforce will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to compete in the rapidly evolving global energy industry while supporting the Federal Government’s drive to increase crude oil production, deepen local capacity and attract fresh investments into the sector.
“As a nation, we remain committed to strengthening these capacities and will continue to advance initiatives that foster innovation, build expertise and position our workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape,” Lokpobiri added.
He noted that the Federal Government would continue to support programmes and institutions dedicated to developing the technical expertise required to drive innovation, improve productivity and ensure the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.