NCDMB builds green energy tech hub in Ibadan
Sopuruchi Onwuka
Over 500 youths recently trained by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) will form part of the initial local technical hub for green energy in Ibadan, Oyo State.
A green energy hub being worked out by the regulatory agency in Ibadan, Oyo State, will see formation of a community of ready technical hands for provision of off-grid electric power supply from solar panels and other storage based solutions.
Director in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics at the NCDMB, Alhalji Abdulmalik Halilu, stated that then training and establishment of technical hub for solar power would enable the youths assist the local economy with alternative energy for homes and businesses.
Halilu who delivered the keynote remarks on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NCDMB at the graduation ceremony of the trainees pointed out the need to create enterprises that evolve off-grid solutions to the country electricity supply problems.
He stated that NCDMB initiated the empowerment programme to create employment opportunities in the country, generate wealth and empower the youths to contribute meaningfully to the economy of the nation.
He made it clear that technological skills acquisition in trades and agriculture is critical to economic development of the country. He noted that solar power installation and maintenance training provided job opportunities for the youths.
He disclosed that the Board has concluded arrangements to register cooperative societies for the group as well as provide shops where they would practice their trades. These take off packages, he explained, form part of the end-to-end planning for creating a technical hub for solar power solutions in the economy.
According to him, “the trainees will commence business as registration of cooperatives and the provision of shops in groups for the graduates has been done. This empowerment programme was aimed at providing lifelong support to youths.
He implored Nigerian youths to take advantage of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Joint Qualification System (NOGICJQS), adding that the platform is used to select participants for human capacity-building interventions and employment opportunities whenever they are available.
Erstwhile Chairman of the Local Content Committee in the 9th Senate, Sen. Teslim Kolawole Folarin, commended the NCDMB for training Oyo 500 youths on solar power installation and maintenance, saying other government regulatory agencies should copy capacity building programmes from the board.
Folarin, who represented Oyo Central Senatorial District, participated in the close-out ceremony of the training held at Ibadan where he lauded the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, for his dedication to growing Local Content and building capacity for youths of the country.
“If we have about 10 Simbi’s in Nigeria, our country will be a better place.”
He requested the Board to continually engage the youths with more training and contract opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
In her comments, the General Manager ofthe Corporate Communication and Zonal Coordination Division, Mrs. Angela Okoro gave an overview of the Board’s objectives and mandates stating that the Board has trained over 16,000 semi-skilled and skilled youths across the country, in furtherance of its Human Capital Development initiatives.
The Oracle Today reports that the six months programme conducted at Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, was organized as part of the NCDMB’s youth empowerment and human capacity-building initiatives.
