OGTAN Campaigns to Retain $240m Annual Oil Sector Training Spend Within Nigeria

The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) has stepped up advocacy to domesticate human capacity building in the energy sector, revealing that operators capitalize about $240 million annually on training programs held outside the country.

The association is spearheading initiatives to halt this capital flight by strengthening indigenous training institutions and scaling their technical capacity to match international industry standards.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 OGTAN Human Capacity Development Conference and Trainers’ Fair, OGTAN President Christopher Osarumwense emphasized that the long-term survival of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector depends heavily on its intellectual capital rather than its subterranean resources.

“The oil and gas industry remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy,” Osarumwense noted. “However, the future competitiveness and sustainability of our industry will be determined not merely by the resources beneath our soil but by the quality, competence, innovation and adaptability of our people.”

The upcoming capacity conference scheduled for August 25 to 27, 2026, at the Petroleum Training Institute in Effurun, Delta State seeks to connect regulators, operators, policymakers, and young professionals. Under the theme “Empowering People. Driving Performance. Shaping the Future of the Oil and Gas Industry,”  the event will showcase local training facilities and explore emerging human resource technologies.

OGTAN Vice-President Steve Osuoha added that despite clear growth in local training infrastructure, multiple oil and gas firms continue to fly their personnel abroad for professional development. He noted that the fair will bridge this gap by helping operators recognize the extensive local technical capabilities already available within Nigeria.

The association further stated that keeping this training revenue inside the country will directly optimize production efficiency, lower overall operations costs, and support workforce development. This push for localization comes at a vital time as the industry battles challenges like pipeline vandalism and high production costs, which experts believe can be better mitigated through local technology adoption and artificial intelligence training.

The initiative is fully recognized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as part of the broader legislative push to enforce local content and build a globally competitive Nigerian workforce.