Oil
The First Train the trainer programme for Nigerian Universities event held in Ibadan
IBADAN: The First ExxonMobil sponsored university Train-The-Trainer programme organised for 20 university Lecturers from 7-South West university held at the conference centre university of Ibadan April 22-26, 2013. This was organized by Danvic Concepts International Nigeria Limited. Speaking at the event was the managing Director of Danvic Concept International Dr Mayowa Afe
For sometimes now and for obvious reasons, the increase in the number of unemployed Nigerian graduates are now becoming very worrisome both to the Nigerian Government and also all well meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies.
This is why I believed that the present government and all stakeholders are coming up with initiatives that will help in the reduction of unemployment among our graduates.
For us in the oil and gas sector it is pleasing to let you know that all stake holders are now very much committed to the success of the Federal Government initiative with respect to the development of indigenous human capacity in the oil and gas sector of our economy. Particularly, more attention is now focused on employing competent Nigerian graduates in the oil and gas sector in preference to foreign experts that come with attendant huge capital flight at the expense of engaging our youths for meaningful nation building and development.
You may all recall that among the major reasons and claims by employers for preferring foreign experts to our Nigerian graduates in the oil and gas sector is the noticeable knowledge gap between the graduates produced by our universities in recent times and their foreign counterparts particularly in specialized areas of the oil and gas sector where you need exposure to advance and up-to-date technology.
It is in view of this development that Danvic Concepts International Nigeria Limited is partnering with major stake holders in the oil and gas sector to enhance the knowledge base of Nigerian university lecturers thereby passing adequate knowledge to the students and making them employable after graduation.
It is in view of the above that we will like to thank the management of Exxonmobil and partners for accepting the Train-The-Trainers program for our universities in which this is third in the series. Twenty lecturers from 7-universities all from the south west will be participating in this edition. The first edition was held in Benin with universities from the south south participating while the second was in Enugu with all south east universities participating. We look forward to the last 3-editions that will involve the North central, North east and North western universities.
Let me use this opportunity to thank the management and staff of Exxonmobil for their continuing huge contributions to the Nigeria education sector. I cannot but personally thank Mr Goodluck Adagbasa (Manager, Deepwater Production Geoscience) and Mrs Rita Umoren (Manager, Public & Govt Affairs) for supervision of this program and for ensuring the success of this collaboration. It is our hope that Exxonmobil will go further in this partnership to actualize this year the support for the NE, N-central and NW universities.
By the end of this training program we will be able to achieve the following among many others:
• Validate skills and knowledge of our lecturers for effective training and teaching of our future Geoscientists.
• Deeper specialization with a widely used automated tool in the oil and gas market
• Increase the employment potential of students after graduation thereby reducing their exposure to violent and criminal activities.
In concluding, let me use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to continue to invest more in Nigeria universities rather than sending our graduates to foreign universities for Masters and PhD degrees. If we have the proper environment and training this can be done in Nigeria.
With this type of support, I will like to call on all oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria to give study contracts to our universities to enable them generate income and have enough data to train post graduate students.
It is also important that our university curriculum is reviewed to reflect the realities of today and the needs of present day employers. This will help increase the employment potentials of our graduates.
Finally, I want to congratulate all the participating lecturers and universities for been the beneficiary of this huge collaboration and I want to encourage all of them to please take full advantage of the opportunity for the benefit of our beloved country.
In a strategic move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has unveiled two key fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and enhancing energy security.
The announcement was made by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Wednesday.
The first initiative, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2024, introduces critical exemptions for essential energy products and infrastructure, including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment.
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These exemptions are designed to reduce living costs for Nigerians, promote energy security, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
The second initiative, the Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, offers new tax relief options for deep offshore exploration projects.
This measure aims to position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for international oil and gas investments, boosting the country’s appeal to foreign investors.
These reforms are part of a broader set of policy initiatives, known as Policy Directives 40-42, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The directives reflect the administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global oil and gas market.
By Yemie Adeoye
NIGERIA’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the protracted ExxonMobil-Seplat upstream oil divestment will be formally approved by the Minister of petroleum within a matter of days, just as he announced his government’s intention to expand the Compress natural Gas, CNG buses initiative.
The President who stated this during his Independence day nationwide broadcast stated that the move is in line with his administration’s commitment to free enterprise, free entry and free exit in investments which is the hallmark of his administration investment policy.
“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.”
The President also seized the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to be patient with his administration’s reform policies. “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace”. he enthused.
As part of the administration’s push to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for ExxonMobil’s plan to invest $10 billion in the country’s deep-water oil sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a meeting with ExxonMobil executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called the investment “a clear testament to the administration’s economic reforms and investor-friendly policies.”
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This announcement follows news that international maritime company DP World intends to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, shared the development in a statement on Wednesday. He quoted Shettima as saying: “ExxonMobil’s potential investment aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a more investment-friendly Nigeria.
We are committed to fostering an environment that supports such transformative projects.”Shettima also discussed the administration’s broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business, highlighting the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to simplify bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives to attract global investors.
“Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These measures, though challenging in the short term, are intended to create a stable and predictable business environment in the long term,” he added.
On the oil and gas sector, Shettima mentioned that the government is revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations to attract investment while ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people.
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