Human Capital Devt Key Focus At OGTAN Conference As Skills Shortage Threatens Oil Output

Human capital development will take centre stage at this year’s OGTAN conference, as a shortage of skilled workers threatens to constrain Nigeria’s oil output amid tightening global energy markets.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), International Oil Companies (IOCs), and members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) are expected to attend the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) 2026 Human Capacity Development Conference and Trainers’ Fair, where human capital development will be the central focus amid growing concerns that skills shortages are threatening Nigeria’s oil output.

The three-day event will be held from 25 to 27 August 2026 at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, in Warri, Delta State.

OGTAN president, Christopher Osasu Osarunmwense, announced the participation to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said invitations have been sent to 10 categories of attendees and stressed that the association expects almost all IOCs to attend.

The fair’s theme is: “Empowering People, Driving Performance, Shaping the Future of the Oil and Gas Industry.”

Osarunmwense explained that the theme reflects the industry’s collective commitment to building a globally competitive workforce equipped with the knowledge, skills, and technological capabilities needed to drive productivity, innovation, local content growth, and sustainable development.

He said the conference will serve as a premier platform for industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, operators, service providers, training institutions, academia, and young professionals to engage on workforce development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The industry remains a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy, Osarunmwense said. However, the sector’s future competitiveness and sustainability will depend not merely on underground resources but also on the quality, competence, innovation, and adaptability of its people.

“As the global energy landscape continues to evolve, the demand for highly skilled professionals capable of leveraging technology, driving operational excellence, and delivering sustainable value has never been greater,” he said.

“Human capital development is therefore no longer optional but a strategic imperative.”

He noted that OGTAN – the umbrella association conceived by the NOGIC Act and nurtured by NCDMB for training and human capacity development within the oil and gas industry – is proud to host the 2026 conference and Trainers’ Fair.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Funmi Ogbue, said the three-day event aims to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce and align training with the highest global standards.

“Our purpose over those three days is simple and deliberate. We want to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce. We want to align our training with the highest global standards. And we want to make certain that our industry remains competitive, innovative, and sustainable for the decades ahead,” she said.

Ogbue emphasised that the association aims to ensure the industry remains competitive, innovative, and sustainable over the next few decades.

Industry reports indicate that growing skills shortages are already slowing growth in the oil sector and threatening production targets, underscoring the urgency of the human capital agenda at the OGTAN conference.