The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has graduated 50 youths from a specialised crane operations training programme as part of efforts to deepen local content and build a highly skilled workforce for Nigeria’s oil and gas, construction and industrial sectors.
The four-week intensive training, held from July 6 to July 31, 2026, equipped participants with technical knowledge, practical competencies and safety skills required for the safe and efficient operation of cranes in line with global industry standards.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Ogbe, represented by Halvin Okonmah, said the programme, facilitated by Zigma Limited, was designed to strengthen indigenous capacity by preparing young Nigerians for careers in the nation’s critical industries.
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“This programme was designed to develop indigenous capacity by equipping young Nigerians with the technical knowledge, practical competence and safety culture required to excel in crane operations within the oil and gas industry. It also reflects our shared commitment to promoting local content through quality skills development,” he said on Friday.
Okonmah revealed that the programme received 355 applications from interested candidates nationwide.
He said that following a rigorous selection process that included shortlisting 65 applicants and a physical screening exercise, 50 participants were admitted to the programme, all of whom completed the training.
He explained that participants underwent intensive classroom and practical sessions covering crane operating principles, lifting operations, equipment inspection, load-handling techniques, signalling and communication, hazard identification, risk assessment, and Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) best practices.
According to him, equal emphasis was placed on professionalism, discipline, teamwork, and compliance with industry standards, while the integration of theoretical and practical learning ensured participants gained the competence and confidence required for real workplace operations.
The Managing Director of Zigma Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, represented by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Ojinika Mba-Kalu, described the graduation as a milestone in developing competent Nigerian professionals capable of meeting the demands of the industry.
“Today is far more than the conclusion of a training programme; it is the celebration of transformation, discipline and opportunity.
“It is a testament to what can be achieved when institutions, industry and individuals unite around a common purpose: building the capacity of Nigerians to compete, excel and lead within our nation’s oil and gas industry,” she said.
She urged the graduates to uphold the values of professionalism, integrity and safety, noting that the certificates they received symbolised not only the successful completion of the programme but also the responsibility of maintaining the highest standards in the workplace.
Mba-Kalu also commended NCDMB for its sustained investment in human capital development, describing the partnership as a significant contribution to indigenous capacity building and increased local participation in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Two of the beneficiaries, Meme Allen and Alalibo Boma, expressed appreciation to NCDMB and Zigma Limited for the opportunity, saying they had no prior knowledge of crane operations before enrolling in the programme but can now confidently operate cranes after the month-long training.
They described the fully funded programme as life-changing and capable of opening doors to meaningful employment in the country’s industrial sector.
The ceremony climaxed with the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the 50 graduates as they prepare to begin careers in Nigeria’s oil and gas and industrial sectors.
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