The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) has said the long-term edge of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will rest on workforce quality, expertise, innovation, and flexibility, rather than natural resources alone.
OGTAN President Chris Osarumwense made this known on Wednesday at a media briefing in Abuja.
With the global energy terrain shifting fast, he noted that the need for professionals who can apply technology and deliver operational excellence has grown sharply.
He described talent and skills development as a core strategic priority.
Osarumwense announced that OGTAN will stage its 2026 Human Capacity Development Conference and Trainers’ Fair from August 25 to 27, 2026, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Warri, Delta State.
He said the summit will centre on developing a workforce that can compete globally and keep Nigeria’s oil and gas industry strong and sustainable.
OGTAN was established under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, NOGIC Act, and is backed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, to coordinate training and skills growth across the sector, he added.
The 2026 edition carries the theme “Empowering People. Driving Performance, Shaping the Future of the OIL & GAS Industry.” Osarumwense explained that the theme signals OGTAN’s resolve to equip workers with knowledge, technical skills, and digital capabilities needed for higher productivity, innovation, local content expansion, and long-term industry growth.
The three-day gathering will assemble industry executives, policy makers, regulators, operators, service companies, training academies, universities, and young professionals.
Key activities lined up include strategic industry dialogue sessions on workforce gaps, skills shortages, leadership growth, talent retention, digital transformation, and the changing nature of work in energy.
Trainers’ Fair and Technology Exhibition, showcasing e-learning platforms, artificial intelligence tools, virtual and augmented reality simulators, and competency tracking systems, are also part of the lined-up activities for the conference.
Other activities include youth and talent development tracks, innovation competitions, career guidance sessions, and networking with senior industry leaders.
On a lighter note, he said the Human Capacity Development Excellence Awards Dinner will honour individuals and organisations driving workforce development and local content advancement.
Osarumwense called the conference a deliberate intervention to reinforce the industry’s foundation.
He stressed that putting people first must stay at the heart of Nigeria’s growth plan to raise productivity, improve efficiency, boost local participation, encourage innovation, and protect competitiveness.
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On his part, OGTAN Vice President Engr. Steve Osuoha expressed confidence that the conference will push Nigeria’s human capital development agenda forward and reinforce the aims of the NOGIC Act.
Also speaking, Planning Committee Chairman Funmi Ogbue added that OGTAN is the umbrella body recognised by NCDMB for all training and human capacity development firms in the industry.
“OGTAN exists to set standards, to foster innovation, and to build a Nigerian workforce that can compete anywhere in the world. That mission is the reason we are gathered this morning,” Ogbue said.
She restated the theme, noting that the programme is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas talent pool, align training with international benchmarks, and ensure the sector remains competitive and sustainable.
“This conference is not an event. It is a movement,” Ogbue stated. “When you bring regulators, academia, investors, operators, and trainers into one room, with one purpose, you do not simply hold meetings, you build a future.”
Speakers and young professionals were encouraged to share insights and join the Innovation Challenge.
“The doors are open. The dates are set. Warri is ready, and together, let us empower people, drive performance, and shape the future of our industry,” Ogbue concluded.
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