By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has commenced an oil and gas skills training programme for 2,000 youths as part of efforts to equip young people with professional skills and qualifications to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector.
The programme, organised under the theme, “Skill Up in the Season of Sweetness,” featured CPD-accredited certificate and diploma training for beneficiaries from across the state.
The programme was launched on Thursday, with the Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem.
Representing the governor, Ayambem described the initiative as timely, saying it would provide young Cross Riverians with practical skills and recognised professional qualifications needed to compete for opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
He said the initiative was consistent with the administration’s People First Agenda, particularly its focus on human capital development and youth empowerment.
According to him, opportunities in the oil and gas sector extend beyond exploration and production to areas including engineering, logistics, safety, environmental management, procurement, maintenance and data services.
“The responsibility of government is to ensure that young people acquire the knowledge, technical competence and professional credentials required to compete effectively for opportunities in the evolving global energy sector,” he said.
Otu said the training of 2,000 youths through CPD-accredited certificate and diploma programmes represented a strategic investment in the beneficiaries, their families and communities, as well as the productive capacity of the state.
He urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and remain committed to continuous learning, noting that the certificates should serve as a foundation for professional growth, entrepreneurship, innovation and participation in the wider economy.
The governor assured young people in the state that his administration would continue to introduce programmes aimed at expanding access to skills, enterprise opportunities and productive employment.
“We are building a state in which talent is recognised, skills are rewarded, and young people are equipped to become employers, professionals and contributors to sustainable development,” Otu said.
He also commended the organisers and technical partners for supporting the youth empowerment initiative, urging the beneficiaries to turn the knowledge acquired into professional competence and economic value.
The governor further challenged the participants to “skill up, stand out and contribute meaningfully to the Season of Sweetness,” while encouraging them to be good ambassadors of Cross River State in their professional pursuits.
