PTI, Oida Energy Near Landmark Partnership to Bridge Oil and Gas Skills Gap
By Wilson Macaulay
The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, and Oida Energy Nigeria are nearing the final stages of a strategic partnership aimed at addressing critical skills gaps in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with a strong focus on well intervention training.
The collaboration, which has been under discussion for several months, gained fresh momentum on Tuesday as executives from the Port Harcourt-based energy firm undertook their third facility tour of the institute, signaling significant progress toward formalizing the agreement.
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Welcoming the delegation, the Principal and Chief Executive of PTI, Engr. Dr. Samuel Onoji, who was represented by the Director of Engineering, Dr. Ahmed Adamu, described the partnership as a timely and strategic initiative. He noted that the visit marked a follow-up to the initial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which would pave the way for the development of a specialized curriculum.
“The coming of the Oida team is a welcome development,” Dr. Adamu said. “We have begun the development of the MoU, and I am confident that the available facilities will serve the students and other trainees effectively.”
Speaking on behalf of Oida Energy Nigeria, the Strategic Business Unit Manager, Engr. Chuks Echem, explained that the partnership was driven by the urgent need to close existing gaps in well intervention competencies within the local industry.
“We are currently partnering with PTI on a well intervention programme, which we identified as a gap that we need to fill,” Echem stated. “This is our third visit to PTI. We have been discussing this for about three months, and today we are at the stage of touring and assessing the facilities. So far, we are impressed with what we are seeing.”
He further disclosed that discussions have reached an advanced stage, expressing optimism that the partnership, once formalized, would significantly enhance capacity development and operational efficiency within the oil and gas sector.
Assessing the institute’s infrastructure, Echem rated PTI’s facilities eight out of ten, commending the institute for maintaining high standards that align with industry expectations.
He also revealed plans to constitute a joint technical committee that would fine-tune the details of the collaboration, particularly in the area of curriculum development, before final approval is secured.
“We are discussing curriculum formation, which is actually the foundation,” he said. “Once this is done and agreed upon, it will determine how we can come in and what we can bring to the table. A committee will be set up to finalize all processes before presentation and approval. We are hopeful that within a month, things will begin to take shape.”
Also speaking, the Head of the Linkages, Exchange and Partnership Unit at PTI, Dr. Mrs. Sarah Nwinee, emphasized the importance of the collaboration in bridging the long-standing gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry application.
She described the initiative as a “triple helix model” that integrates government, academia, and industry to drive innovation and sustainable development.
“It is very important that we bridge the gap between theory and practice,” Dr. Nwinee said. “We are dealing with core industry specialists in well intervention. PTI has the theoretical background and the facilities, while Oida brings practical industry expertise. When you bring government, industry, and academia together, innovation thrives.”
She noted that Oida Energy was carefully selected based on its proven technical capacity and industry reputation, particularly in the area of well intervention services.
“In well intervention, Oida has one of the best capacities in the country, and that is why we entered into this partnership. They have conducted a thorough inspection of our facilities and are satisfied. We are equally satisfied, and now we can move forward to blending our curriculum and advancing the industry.”
Dr. Nwinee also called on Nigerians to continue to have confidence in PTI, highlighting its historical role in building manpower for the nation’s oil and gas sector.
“PTI represents the true story of local content development in Nigeria. The institute was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey to becoming a member of OPEC. Over 50 years later, PTI continues to deliver on its mandate of building critical capacity for the industry,” she added.
With both parties expressing satisfaction following the facility inspection, the partnership is expected to progress swiftly into the curriculum development and implementation phase, marking a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce and enhancing in-country expertise.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MARCH 25TH 2026)
