House of Representatives member for Eket/Onna/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Hon Okpolupm Etteh, has launched the second phase of a specialised oil and gas maintenance services training and certification programme for hundreds of his constituency youths to address unemployment.
The certification training, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, focussed on enhancing competencies in oil and gas maintenance services including Irata rope access, forklift operation and rig operation.
Flagging off the scheme at the Standard Institute of Technology (SIT), Uyo, Hon Etteh, represented by a former Ibeno LGA chapter chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ekoakwaha Etteh, said,
“This training, and many others that will come, represents my unwavering commitment to youths’ capacity-building, which is a key component of my development agenda for the federal constituency.
“In the first phase, scores of youths benefited from intensive Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) training, many of whom have since been certified and equipped to take on professional roles in the private and public sectors.
“The second phase builds on that foundation by introducing technical skills that align with the opportunities available in the oil and gas sector, a critical industry in the region.”
Etteh, who is the deputy chairman of the House Committee on University Education, stressed that he has consistently championed human capital development, with a focus on equipping the next generation with the skills needed to participate within and outside Akwa Ibom State.
He assured that the training programme would empower the beneficiaries and position them to take advantage of career opportunities in the highly competitive oil and gas industry.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the lead instructor, Engr Tom Unyime, said, “participants will undergo rigorous theoretical and practical sessions, followed by assessments that will lead to certifications recognised internationally within the industry.”
