Chairman of the Lagos Zone of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria, Daniel Thomas, has said that the adoption of artificial intelligence will boost Nigeria’s oil and gas training sector.
Thomas stated that the global energy landscape is transforming rapidly, and with it comes an urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen the skills, capacities and capabilities that will determine the nation’s competitiveness and sustainability.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Reshaping the future of the energy training sector in Nigeria through innovation and artificial intelligence‘, during the 4th OGTAN Lagos zone dinner and award ceremony held recently, Thomas said, “Artificial intelligence, digitisation, immersive learning technologies, data-driven competency development and smart training ecosystems are no longer futuristic concepts; they are here, redefining how we learn, how we teach, and how we prepare today’s workforce for tomorrow’s energy realities.
As a zone, we are committed to leading this change.
“We celebrate not only the progress made but also the partnerships, thought leadership and relentless commitment of organisations and individuals who continue to shape the future of energy training in Nigeria.”
OGTAN President, Mr. Christopher Osarumwense, represented by the National Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Funmi Ogbe, said that the ceremony was a cornerstone of their collective effort to build a resilient, skilled and future-ready workforce for Nigeria’s vital energy industry.
He added that the theme of the event could not be timelier.
“As global energy dynamics evolve, so must our capacity to equip the workforce with the skills, technologies, and competencies required for the future to grow. This gathering is more than an award ceremony; it is a shared commitment to raising the bar for excellence, accelerating digital transformation, and driving sustainable growth across the energy training sector,” he stated.
The Chief Executive Officer, Business School Netherlands, Nigeria, Prof. Lere Baale, stated that the world is undergoing a historic transition.
He noted that the global energy landscape is shifting from a hydrocarbon-dominated system to a diversified, technology-driven system powered by renewables, data, and digital intelligence.
Speaking on the topic, he stressed that for Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, this transformation presents both a challenge and a golden opportunity to move from a raw resource exporter to a knowledge- and innovation-driven energy hub.
“Our success in this transition will depend not just on rigs, refineries, and reserves but on people: the quality of our talent, the relevance of our L&D, and the agility of our learning systems.
“The future of Nigeria’s energy sector will not be written in barrels, it will be written in bytes and brains. We have the human capital, the market, and the momentum. What we now need is vision, investment, and courage to redesign how we train, learn, and lead.
“If we harness the power of innovation and artificial intelligence today, we will sustain our energy industry and illuminate Africa’s path toward sustainable prosperity. Together, let us reshape the future, by transforming our L&D, inspiring our talent, and igniting innovation,” Baale said.
The General Manager, Monitoring & Evaluation at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Silas Ajimijaye, enumerated the achievements of the board in driving local capacity development and support for OGTAN.
